The Warlord Domination Sovereign Race: Book 1

By Gregg Everman

Amid the millions of galaxies that make up the universe, one race of beings known as the Incite has reigned over almost every other species for many thousands of years. Their millions of armies, titled The Censure Rite, have justified themselves in the enslavement
and genocide of trillions of innocent inhabitants of those they conquer. Their leaders, the line of Warlords, have begun and carried out this savage Domination, without any race's ability to even slow them down... Until this day... In these olden years there is an ancient people who have emerged from an exile of countless years, deep beneath the depths of their Red Desert home world, Faoe, and have travelled out into the stars to carve their own way. They are called Humanity. After having colonized many worlds, the humans united to forge a weapon so great that it may be all that stands between them and the looming threat of the Censure Rite. That weapon is now complete... a cannon-star world known as Otonoliss. But after a severe attack nearly cripples the weapon, its rulers decide that an effective strategy to use it to destroy the forces of The Warlord must be put into effect immediately. They turn to the expertise of the quirky Captain Riss Len-Quéd, and the crew of his ship the Chariot, as well as the Faoe woman Ethiir Regal, to recruit the toughest soldiers in the entire universe to lead this attack. Aegis Thearo, thought by many to be the perfect soldier on the warring world of Faoe, will be faced with the hard choice of taking up humanity›s cause, despite the hidden battles he already fights in his own mind; and along with his friend Donold Senetil, his trusted captain Zeelu Atrosa, and a once vehement enemy Lucas Endre, he will decide whether to allow their entire race to be conquered, or to instead take up arms against this wretched enemy. But this war is not just a war against The Censure Rite; it is also a battleground between friends, between fellow human beings...between brothers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gregg Everman
• Release date: Sep 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781773701547

Book preview

The Warlord Domination

Sovereign Race

Book One

Gregg Everman

Table of Contents

The Warlord Domination

Sovereign Race

Gregg Everman

Chapter 1

The Red Giant.

Chapter 2

The World of The Weapon.

Chapter 3

Hasty Decisions.

Chapter 4

The World on Fire.

Chapter 5

Last Bastion.

Chapter 6

Original Thinking.

Chapter 7

King of the Warborn.

Chapter 8

Forwarding the Proposition.

Chapter 9

Madmen Awakening.

Chapter 10

An End to the Endless.

Chapter 11

Where All Legends End.

Chapter 12

The Silent Man’s Thoughts.

Chapter 13

Predator over Prey.

Chapter 14

Enter the Alien.

Chapter 15

Brother from Brother.

Chapter 16

The Evil over Evils.

Chapter 17

Men of War.

Chapter 18

No Rest for the Weary.

Chapter 19

The Magnificent Wretched.

Chapter 20

New Lease on Life.

Chapter 21

Nor a Cause for Death.

Chapter 22

Dead Zone.

Chapter 23

Exit Stage.

Chapter 24

At the Clashing.

Chapter 25

You are the Breaking Wall.

Chapter 26

Entry of The Uninvited.

Chapter 27

The Scenic Route.

Chapter 28

Cosmic Flare Troopers.

Chapter 29

In This Perfect World.

Chapter 30

A Place to call Home…Forever.

Chapter 31

A Fire for the Insane.

Chapter 32

To Soar over Vultures.

Chapter 33

And with the Fury of Spectres.

Chapter 34

Rise before the Fallen Animal.

Chapter 35

To a Misery-Laden Grave.

Chapter 36

Duties of the Servant.

Chapter 37

Sovereign Race.

List of unique People, Planets, Vehicles, and Species found in The Warlord Domination, Sovereign Race.

The Ages of Humanity:

The Planets (or Natures) of Humanity:

About the Author:

Copyrights

Chapter 1

The Red Giant.

Planet: Faoe (pronounced: Fay-oe)

As we travel through the end reaches of the universe, past stars streaming by in the appearance of a trillion white lines, a planet begins to come into view. It is not really huge as planets go, but the vast barrenness of its surface disguises its small size to the naked eye.

The planet is also flanked on either side by two small moons; both have long asteroid trails flowing through space after them, which seem to have been caused by their colliding with each other on many- if not frequent- occasions. The rock trails, over time, settle onto the planet itself in the form of massive meteor showers- deadly meteor showers.

The planet’s suns are less remarkable... two yellow stars positioned just a short distance away, which, because of Faoe’s almost non-existent rotation, usually only shine on about 75% of the planet’s surface.

Faoe itself is anything but unremarkable. The world is made up mostly of magnetic rock, vibrantly red and highly electric, causing the upper atmosphere to be filled with thick volcanic ash and dazzling bolts of blue lightning. These storms cause havoc with interplanetary ships and even ground based machinery; they block out a good deal of the suns’ light to the world below, and bring a large amount of acid rain in the wet seasons.

There is little natural life on this dead, desert-encased rock; but what small amounts there are are guarded and coveted with unrivaled fierceness by its populace: Humanity.

This planet was once very much alive, truth be told. It was known by many, so long ago, to be amongst the universe’s most influential and feared of worlds; powerful and wealthy; able to deal a mighty blow to those who dared oppose.

In those days, the people lived deep beneath these eternal red sands, safe from their deadly winds and blazing heats by kilometres of firm rock. But that safe haven is no longer a possibility for today’s citizens. The old earth-caverns have all been sealed many thousands of years past by their ancestors. Those who did not depart into the stars above in the ensuing years were forced to face the reality of life on a planet 90% near-uninhabitable!

We turn now to the surface, to one of its few cities... a small sign of life amidst a lifeless world.

‘Welcome Friends to Acastid’ reads one sign on the outskirts; though the city itself does not look very welcoming. The streets are deserted, save for some ravaged and looted vehicles still parked sparsely on every other intersection, crosswalk, or parking space. The buildings, once tall and grand, are now just giant monuments of rubble, only kept standing because of the strength of their design. Craters, garbage, and destroyed machines-of-war dot the city. One wouldn’t have to look far to find some form or other of weaponry next to: a scraped tank, a dead soldier, or behind any nook and cranny across the entire city.

There is no stench in the air (though it is certainly felt by those unfortunate enough to still live here) because of the thick ash everywhere across the planet. Thus there is little to remind the foolish warlords here of the consequences of conflict.

And so wars rage ever on, riding on the backs of the people who have neither the power nor position to make any stand of their own. These poor souls are the ones who die on Faoe; quickly forgotten, their bodies left in the streets where they passed, only eventually being buried by the merciful blowing sands of the boundary-less desert.

This is Faoe. This is how it has been since long before anyone can remember; long before even the ancient days, and the glorious Egoase Age prior to that [A peaceful age long, long ago]. Faoe has only ever known war; and these days that expression has almost become an excuse for madmen who wish to continue this planet’s destructive course.

In view now are the desolate streets of the city Acastid.

All is silent.

Now a radio begins to play somewhere. It’s playing an old song, a classic. Actually, it’s almost sad to hear amidst the quiet peace which oft arises when there are few left to speak or make any sort of noise at all.

The radio plays on. The song goes like this:

In Those Old Mountain Roads,

past the house on the Rocky Gorge,

past the fires on the...High Peaks,

Alive with the sorrow...the sorrow we did hold...

(Banjos play)

The tune is bouncy, catchy. Maybe people used to sing along or even dance to it. But as we now approach a small band of survivors among the ruined buildings, (radio in their midst) the dead staring expressions of their faces don’t exactly relay any desire to join together in a merry mood. These people are the few still living in the city. They have all lost loved ones; many have lost close relations, friends, people they cared about deeply. For them, the horrors of war are all too real, and the only escape is memory... sad, silent memory.

One of these people, standing watch near a collapsed wall, is Mex Vomer, a tall, burly, 16 year old boy, strong in spirit, and with a fairly good head on his shoulders. He is one of the tougher ones. Being easy to like and easy to respect have made the few young lads here kind of look up to him as a dad figure- not that he wants to be though! In truth, Mex is only looking to leave this wretched place, much to the dismay of his friends and family. But never- Never, it must be said- would he put his own wish in front of the wishes of those who need him, and those who love him dearly- such as his step-father.

He looks over at the deserted buildings across the street and then peers into the cloudy, red sky. ‘They’re coming’, he thinks.

Hey Mex?

Started from his thoughts, he spins around. A young teenager, no more than 13 years old stands behind him. He’s a tall brown-skinned boy with messy, dark hair and an ‘I don’t care’ attitude that, to Mex, frankly just seems to follow him around.

What now, Ganju? he asks, somewhat irritated at being interrupted from his pleasant thinking- one of just a few things he still enjoys.

The Constellation are gonna assemble just under the Old Town Square over there (the boy points). I know it! [The Constellation are an enemy force opposed to the governing faction: The Great State.]

Nonsense Ganjy. That’s Way too close to our lines, Mex responds, and then resumes his staring.

Fine, fine, Ganju says, waving his hand the same way he’s watched grown-ups do it. Just don’t cry when you’re wrong.

Mex turns and smiles smugly at him. You don’t either, because here comes the cavalry to save the day!

Huh? Ganju looks up where he is staring. Hey! hey guys look! The Phantom Droppers are comin’!

Everybody cheers as they rush over to see.

Up in the dark, crimson sky, blue lights begin to appear; closer and closer they come, till finally they take the form of lightly armored Phantom soldiers, clad in scarlet cloaks and onyx gear; equipped for hard core combat. These deadly warriors cut through the cold morning air like daggers through sand all the way to the earth below. The electric repulsor waves inside their gloves and knee-pads blast the ground below them, scattering obstacles far and wide as the devices cushion their fall.

The soldiers immediately get to work, rushing out into the streets, weapons blazing against a sudden onslaught of fire from terrified Grand Constellation soldiers!

As the battle begins, the leader of the Phantoms looks around at the chaos now erupting all throughout this side of the city- bullets and large metal shells streaking all around him! A satisfied smile spreads over the thick, bearded chin beneath his tiger-striped face shield [A face-covering mask with two eyes and a fanged-mouth, possessing a rather intimidating character.]. He is Zeelu Atrosa, Captain of the 7th Brigade of Droppers. His record of victories against the popular Grand Constellation uprising are astounding! Every ground he and his men tread upon flies the flag of the Great State Security just days later! [Great State Security are the sworn enemies of the mercenary Grand Constellation group; they are led by their king: Emasse Shunt.] Himself a lethal combatant, few in their proper mentality would dare pit themselves- or any of their allies for that matter- against him.

Donold! he thunders above the loud roar of the battle. Get over here, Now!

A shorter, heavily clad trooper, wearing large orange goggles under his red hood rushes over, dumping at least half a clip from his large, pounder chain-rifle at a group of retreating Constellation soldiers across the street. Captain!? he shouts back, his voice barely audible.

Get Irliss Eloken and Shaj Kinnesfield and take them across the dried-up riverbed! Regroup with the Corporal and evacuate any civilians you see along the way-! He breaks off his order abruptly to rev his rifle- a chainsaw-like device- and fires at the window of a nearby building. The chain launches a dozen or so heavy bullets into it, ripping the entire side wall to pieces!

Donald Senetil also joins in with a volley of explosive rounds. Their doubled fire eventually tears the inner room to pieces, destroying the wooden desk a Constellation standard-infantry soldier was taking cover behind! After one second of shells impacting on his chest and shoulder armour, the rounds drive the man through the back wall to his death below!

Zeelu then looks at Donold again. Get moving son! he says, clapping him on the shoulder.

Yes sir! the orange-goggled soldier replies. Hopping to his feet, he turns around-

Zeelu grabs his arm. Where did Aegis land!?

Donald looks around with a searching eye. Finally he looks back to his captain. I don’t know! Probably in those old ruins to the east! He points in the direction, then turns and sprints away through a hail of gunfire.

DAD!!

Zeelu turns to see his son Ganju, along with one of his own best and most trusted friends, his step-son Mex Vomer, running speedily towards him. He shouts, Ganju, get down, now!!

Two shots dart over Ganju’s head, narrowly missing Mex right beside him! The two hit the floor; Mex pumping rounds, from what looks to Zeelu like a pop gun, into the second floor of a skyscraper, not far from the captain himself.

Repeater shots ring out from the window, pummeling the stone Mex is crouched behind to pieces!

SMASH!!!

ARRAAH!! Mex shouts, though more from frustration than anything else.

Ganju pulls out his pistol. I’LL GET ‘EM OFF YOU PAL!! He runs out into the open, firing at the window!

POW POW POW!!

NO, YOU YOUNG GOOF!! Mex cries, reaching out to try stopping him. He is held in place though, by a large boulder rolled over his leg.

One of the two Grand Constellation soldiers emerges onto the building’s second story balcony! He is a huge armoured brute, wielding a M.1.1.A Chasm Causer- one of the most deadly explosive launchers in the known universe!

Ganju fires into the man twice, but his shots simply bounce off this titan’s coat of thick grey armour!

The soldier levels his barrel on the terrified youth! Below his upper face plating, his mouth is smiling in satisfaction.

But then a red mass surges ahead of Ganju, too quickly to focus on. It wields a rifle though; and right now the butt-end of the weapon is the side at the ready!

It’s Zeelu! He jumps up a humanly Impossible distance of almost 12 feet!

The enemy soldier begins to pull the trigger when suddenly an explosion of burning scarlet surges up mere feet in front of him!

AAAAAAAAAARAAAGH!! Zeelu cries, swinging his rifle with all of his might- being a Phantom Dropper, clad in strength-enhancing armour, that swing could put a dent in two feet thick metal!-

CLAAAANG!! The steel giant smashes hard into the wall beside him! He quickly becomes half-buried as it collapses on him!

His partner rushes out to confront the captain.

BANG BANG!! He staggers then falls back down into the doorway like a stone!

Mex salutes to Zeelu from down in the street; his rifle’s chain glowing red.

Zeelu turns to salute back, drawing his attention briefly away from his downed foes.

Bad mistake! RAAAAAAAARRR!! Foe 1 bursts out of his rubble cradle, grabbing a brick in either hand! He hurls one, then the other at Zeelu!

He dives against a nearby wall to narrowly miss the flying rocks, and struggles in the half-second he has to get his weapon aimed...

TOO SLOW!! the brute shouts, punching his tiger-mask with iron gloves! Zeelu hits the wall again, hard! The titan then smashes the wall with his fingers, and pulls with all his might! The entire wall, yanked from its foundation, pushes Zeelu in the side, throwing off his aim, and knocks him heavily down to the ground!

Uaah! he gasps, attempting, but failing, to snap back to his feet.

The wall begins rocking over, and is pulled (by you know who) down to crush him!

Suddenly his blurry vision of the oncoming wall is blocked by the vibrant red of another Phantom soldier’s cloak. The newcomer puts his hands against the wall, stiffens his stance, then heaves!

Not only does the wall stop, it actually reverses direction! Despite the Constellation giant’s attempts to keep it falling, it surges back up and slams into place, disintegrating into a thousand pieces of brick and mortar!

What in all the-! the enemy giant begins.

The new Phantom doesn’t even give him the chance to react! Spinning, he plants his feet and delivers a knockout punch!

The massive brute almost appears to just simply…vanish before Zeelu’s eyes! But the large hole in the wall behind where he was just a moment earlier states pretty clearly that this is Not the case.

Zeelu takes the proffered hand of the newcomer and is hauled to his feet. Ha ha! he laughs at the man behind the Phantom-mask. "Aegis Thearo! Where on this red rock have you been?"

The newcomer presses a button on his upper chestplate, causing his ghastly mask to slide down from his thin face. You are welcome Captain, is his reply. His voice is dark and deep; his face that of an interior man, yet somehow so sad…so painful… I came to report that the city-centre appears to be teeming with Constellation, a good few thousand or so.

Zeelu decides to put aside his inner thoughts of his friend for now. Well, you could have just radioed it in, he says in his usual commander’s tone.

Aegis looks matter-of-fact. They have communication jammers set up in almost every, single building we have come across so far. So that leaves radioing anything in out of the equation for now.

Zeelu walks over to the edge of the heavily damaged balcony to observe the embattled city. He holds a stance like a true leader. "Well, it also means that they can’t report anything either. I would say…that gives us a distinct advantage."

"Well, I am pleased you think so, sir, Aegis responds, never afraid to speak his mind to his captain, despite his quiet demeanor. To Zeelu, that is a sure sign of trust... a deep trust. They do have us significantly outnumbered- if you failed to notice."

I noticed. I notice everything, he smilingly answers. And I like it better when we are. He then looks back to his lieutenant.

Aegis knows that look well and nods. Yes sir! He then turns and dives off the building, heading in the direction of the fighting. Zeelu watches him go and looks pleased. He thinks of Aegis Thearo as the perfect soldier. Many would be the number of men he would trade, if needs be, to keep him in his platoon.

He then jumps down off the balcony himself to ground level- his suit’s hydraulics taking away the fall’s punch- and lands gracefully in front of his son, still standing in the middle of the street.

Wow, Dad! Ganju cries. You guys are GREA-!

Zeelu swats the pistol out of his son’s hand! as the tiger-striped faceplate slides down from his deep brown face. Don’t Ever do that again Ganju! EVER!! Do you understand!? he shouts with blatant authority.

Yeah Dad, yeah ok! he stammers.

His father picks up the gun angrily. Who gave you this!?

Mex limps over with a worried expression. I’m afraid that was I, sir… he apologizes, shrugging his shoulders. I figured we needed an extra shooter…

Zeelu winces, never quite able to find it in himself to reprimand his young friend easily. Mex has always been so close to him, having been an orphan whom he brought under his wing many years ago. I understand that, Mex. I do. But not him- not Ganju. I don’t want my son anywhere Near a weapon, alright? He tries to say it reservedly while still being forceful.

Mex shifts uncomfortably but nods, not having the courage to look him in the eye. Yes, captain.

Zeelu visibly relaxes. I always know I can count on you, Mex. You’ll make a great soldier one day. I Mean that.

He manages a shy smile. Thank you, sir.

Then the captain returns to his commanding self. In the meantime I want you two to get away from here as fast as possible. Round up as many civilians as you run across on your way, and then make for the far borderlands. He then shifts his gaze solely to Mex. Keep young Ganju safe, Mex. Do Not let him come back here; understood?

But No, Dad-! Ganju begins.

No ‘buts’, Ganju! he interrupts. Don’t forget, you have a younger brother at home who still needs you.

But Dad… he moans.

Take him out, Mex! Zeelu commands. And good fortune to you.

Mex grabs Ganju’s shoulder and leads him off. The best to you too, sir.

The two then enter a battered building and exit from Zeelu’s sight.

*Click* The radio on his belt goes off.

He grabs the thick, cumbersome device. Captain Atrosa! he answers.

Donold Senetil’s voice comes through. *We’ve taken the riverbed sir! Irliss, Shaj and the rest o’ the boys are with me in the Artisan Man building on the other side!*

Keep me posted! Atrosa out! *Click* He shuts the radio off, and then laughs quietly to himself. Always the same- always easy, he says to no one in particular. It doesn’t even seem fair anymore. He then begins running off toward the frenzy of clashing soldiers. I’m starting to doubt that there’s much out there that can even slow us down…

Chapter 2

The World of The Weapon.

Planet: Otonoliss (pronounced: Aw-taan-oe-liss)

Space, white stars, vast emptiness. It all makes for quite the view to the good looking 29-year-old human man staring at it right now.

Its deadly elements such as airlessness, weightlessness, or extreme cold- which is at a temperature of almost -270 degrees Celsius!- aren’t a concern to him right now, being shielded by a near impervious grey and orange space suit, manufactured by the best craftsmen of this world to meet its high standards.

This brown-haired spaceman is floating just above a kilometre-long plate of metal doing last-minute repairs to its exterior circuit panels. He himself is not actually a technician, but, because of the rushed state of the project, is lending a helping hand to assist in whatever is needed.

His name is Riss Len-Quéd- an honorable name on this world: Otonoliss; one with a rich family history. Normally his role is quite different, being captain of the famous warship Chariot, protecting the world’s borders from alien fleets, and ensuring that the planet’s own citizens stay in line.

Peace has not been exactly an easy achievement over the course of Otonoliss’s three thousand year history- a relatively short time when compared to many of the universe’s other worlds- especially lately, in the last seven or so years...

First there was an interplanetary problem near the Horizon Fall nature [Nature means Planet to humans of these days.], involving a stranded civilian frigate trapped inside enemy borders. The tension very nearly erupted into a full-scale war between the dreaded forces of the mighty Censure Rite [The collective armies of a fearsome, alien-warrior band known as the Incite.], and the regretfully sparse human fleets.

Then there was the more recent chaos involving a hero of humanity’s ancient days. Raig Metrolan was his name, and the Incite’s hatred of him, dating back perhaps 4 hundred thousand years (Yeah! That long!), caused chaos to erupt all across the known universe; pitting even those who should have been closest allies against each other in a fight to the death!

The alien Incite band ended up with their wish- Raig Metrolan was killed, and peace returned between the races of the Incite and Humanity. But the peace after these hostilities between the two races is, in all but the minds of the deluded, a laughingly false one. All-out-war, resulting in quite probably the deaths of Millions, is perhaps only a matter of mere months away.

The only question now is: who will prepare themselves better? Who has prepared themselves better?

Riss tries to put these thoughts aside as he continues focusing on his work- primarily, pushing a troublesome circuit conduit back into place. ‘Dang, it’s a bugger!’ he thinks, momentarily frustrated.

Click! ‘Finally!’ It snaps back in. He grins behind his blue-tinted helmet visor. Okay, Ja-ça, he calls to one of the other spacemen across the upper hull. Looks like I’m done on this end! First to finish as always!

Ja-ça slides his panel back into place as well. He then pulls out a bolt gun and drives two rivets into place on the panel’s top and bottom. His young face, with a well-cropped brown beard, looks over at Riss. Looks like I’m the only one to remember all the details! he smirks, then adds, As always!

Riss drives his two bolts into place with a disgruntled expression on his face. Yeah, well…too bad rivet guns couldn’t win you first place at the Academy, huh!? He smirks, biting his upper lip to stop himself from exploding into a laugh.

Ja-ça floats over and punches him in the stomach with the rivet gun, pretending to shoot him.

Uaaaah! Riss plays dead, allowing himself to float to the far side of the hull. Finally, coming back to ‘life’, he grabs a guardrail near the plate’s end.

He looks over… Wow…

What now? an annoyed looking Ja-ça asks, floating up beside him, holstering the rivet gun.

Green and silver light reflects off of Riss’s visor as he stares down below. Funny, I gotta say… he says deeply. This is one view that never gets old…

There it sits, at least thirty kilometres below them, The Beauty of the Outermost: Otonoliss! A heavily forested greenhouse world composed entirely of great steel plates, which are covered primarily with the finest green trees, dotting the surrounding grasslands with their vibrant beauty. So do the hills- covered in grass, bush and flowers- reaching out to the clouds above. A grandeur unparalleled by any other nature [Remember, Nature means Planet.] known to man.

The nature’s clear silver waters, powered by great pumping machines, gush forth across its surface, throughout valleys and farmlands- even flowing in great waterfalls over the edges of the thousands of metal plates holding up the green surface of Otonoliss.

Concerning those plates, one must needs be understand that each and every one of them [There are tens of thousands.] stand on different elevations. The afore-mentioned waters run on and off them, pooling ever downwards to the plates beneath. Traveling across their vast surface, the streams eventually fall once again to another land-plate below. This continues in an endless cycle to reach the bottom, and in order to prevent that from ever happening, the land-plates are in constant motion from top to bottom, every single one taking its turn at the appropriate time, creating a spectacle of an effect; which, from a great distance, looks like the inside of an organ when its keys are played from lowest notes to highest.

All the waters end up flowing through the central equator, where lies the capital city of Inquina (a place Riss frequents during his off time), a virtual hive of gambling, partying and every other enjoyment the nature has to offer.

But all these land workings of Otonoliss are little in comparison to its magnificent sky! (REALLY!!) For the entire plated giant is surrounded from pole to pole by an Enormous network of metal framed glass hexagons! Thousands upon thousands of glass hexagons; their inner borders reflecting every color of the rainbow back into space, and delivering the most beautiful color patterns down to the nearly 14 billion citizens below! Almost 50,000 pillars hold this giant ceiling in the air; and it, in turn, provides oxygen, atmosphere, seasons, and even night and day, all across the globe.

Life here has become very normal under these seemingly unthinkable conditions. Business and trade flourishes just like in many healthy societies; jobs are all centered around the building and upkeeping of this populous world; travel is frequent, just like in our own world, as Otonoliss is famous for the beauty and craftsmanship of its renowned fleet of both military and civilian vessels.

And last of all it must be said that on this world, more than any other of humanity’s 11 natures, a sort of sense of security has become prevalent amongst almost all of the nature’s citizens, even in spite of their precarious situation (meaning the very likely threat of an Incite attack).

Almost all.

Riss Len-Quéd watches the nature with peering eyes, as if actually intrigued by something on its surface.

Ja-ça decides to just give him his time. He knows Riss too well to interrupt him when he’s having a quiet moment.

All this bugs Riss. The entire world bugs him! He may only be one small captain out of a fleet of captains as numerous as apples in an orchard, but he’s no fool. He knows only too well Otonoliss’s real reason for being- why it was crafted around the bulk of a sunless asteroid at its inception; and why all of humanity has dumped wealths upon wealths of resources into its 3-millennia-long creation…

Otonoliss is a weapon. By far the most enormous, expensive, time-consuming weapon ever created by either humanity, or any one of the dozen other known species in the universe. Designed and built for the destruction of all humanity’s enemies- but mainly the Censure Rite and their Incite rulers.

And it is lethal. Very, very lethal! People- experts in fact- say that it will be able to reach to the farthest reaches of even the ends of the universe in less than the blink of an eye!…and touch them with its terrifying, deadly light!

But too few speak of how destructive that touch will be…and how many may have to die to find out.

Now reality is about to set in (well…with any luck). The nature is at last finally finished construction. Riss himself is helping to complete the last few operations. Admittedly, despite his skepticism, he’s quite excited- just like about every single other resident across Otonoliss. And who can really blame him anyway?

3000 years of building! (When was the last time You spent 3000 years building anything!?) There is no man from the beginning of this journey who has survived to see its now imminent completion- save for perhaps some abominable Ancient from Faoe! (More on that later.) The old residents have passed its construction down from generation to generation, through good times and bad, through good men and bad, all to one day reach this point- this epic moment in time where Humanity may finally gain the opportunity to choose its Own course; with all other powers of the universe only able to watch, helpless to interfere.

*Click!* Riss flips open his hand comm-node. Len-Quéd here! Commander Lu-Den and I are done working up on the roof. Waiting on you guys now; over…

A moment passes. *Click!* A cocky voice comes back, *Uh I’m afraid that is a negative, captain… Yeah you see, intel has my team’s finishing time listed at 0’700 hours and yours at 0’702… So…I’m always sorry to correct you- as you of course know… Um, I don’t know how you could have gotten your information so wrong…*

Oh, Plug it up, Roice! Riss shoots back, smiling to himself. You’d better start sprinting back to base pal, ‘cause if I get back to that docking hatch first, I’m locking you out!

Laughter comes back over the radio *"Ahahaha! Well, there again, you see, we’re kind of in outer space here… That makes it just a little bit hard to sprint…if you know what I mean?"*

Then you had better get an early start, don’t you think? Riss can almost see the chuckling expression on his friend’s face.

*Roger that, Cappy! Commander Son-kye out!* The link shuts off.

Ja-ça floats back over to Riss. "Are we heading back already? he says in his usual teasing voice. I was just starting to have fun!"

Riss straps on his equipment belt and picks up the remainder of his tools. Right… Let’s get inside. We wouldn’t want to miss the grand opening ceremo-

*RED ALERT, RED ALERT!!* a nervous voice suddenly booms over the intercom! *UNKNOWN SHIPS ON COURSE FOR THE ASZEN LENS!!*

Riss glances at his startled comrade. Ja-ça glances back. The two then bolt as fast as they can for the docking hatch, pulling hard on the zip-lines to gain more speed- not an easy thing to do in zero gravity, wearing a cumbersome space suit! It’s almost a half-kilometre away though!

Ja-ça punches his comlink. What’s going on, control? he yells, Who’s on course!?

The voice blurts back, *I D- I DON’T KNOW! GET INSIDE NOW!! THEY’RE ALMOST RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU!!*

"Where- WHERE!? How close!?" Ja-ça screams back.

Danger close! Riss answers, pointing directly behind them, along their cord.

Then, all across the star-filled blackness of space above Otonoliss, tiny burgundy lights begin popping into view- thousands and thousands of them! From each one emerges a small space vessel, dagger shaped, with their wingspan covered in light but Lethal weaponry!

The portals from which they emerge dim out as they exit, splashing red energies across the vessels as they streak towards the nature below! (Not something Riss thought he’d see when he woke up this morning!)

He tucks his head down and pulls himself in with renewed energy! He and Ja-ça are still at least two hundred yards away, scrambling towards the entry point to the outer station along with dozens of other workers and construction machines. He barely even hears the voice in his ear...

*GET INSIDE! GET INSIDE!! YOU’RE SITTING DUCKS OUT THERE!!!*

Too late!

Something silver and orange whizzes past his head, darts forward, and then slams into a hull-plate just meters ahead!!

BOOOOOM!!! The explosion seems to blast a hole in space itself! The ensuing shockwave slams into the group of men, scattering them in every direction, and knocking giant pieces of metal free from their moorings right into their faces!

The sound of muffled screaming is loud in Riss’s ears as he fumbles to keep his grip on the cable! He grabs it tightly in his closer hand. What the Blazes was-!?

Ja-ça interrupts, RISS LOOK OUT!!

Riss turns around just in time to yank himself out of the way of another streaking fighter! This one follows the ruin of the first!-

Ka-Boom!! The explosion’s blast wave hits them all hard again! Cables are torn apart, sending more men flying! The station itself ripples like water, viewports shatter, and explosions erupt from every surrounding air vent! Even some poor technicians inside the station are ejected to their deaths!

EVERYONE HOLD ON!! Riss shouts to the company as they are all tossed about like branches in the wind. More and more streaks zip past them, some hitting metal, others streaking deeper into the station, dodging the explosions of their comrade’s vessels.

Riss, they’re hitting the hull with their own ships! Ja-ça cries out. "Riss, they’re hitting the wall with their own ships!!"

Yeah! I can see that!

What, are they suicidals!?

Riss keeps pulling himself in. "That, or just desperate!"

"Nobody’s that desperate!" Ja-ça shouts back, digging deep to keep up.

These guys are! Another shockwave slams into them; this time throwing Ja-ça right off the cable and smashing him back-first into the outer hull!

AAAAAAHAAAOW!!! he screams. Blast it all!

Hang on buddy, I’m coming, Riss mutters to himself. He then plants both feet on the cable and vaults forward, reaching out his hand toward his friend as he nears him.

Ja-ça swats it away. I’m alright! he says though a pain-racked face.

Riss quickly examines his suit and spots blood coming from the back. He grimaces and grabs his friend around the shoulders. No, you’re not. Now just hang on to me! We’ve got to keep going! He grabs on to another cable.

Ja-ça can only respond with a face of searing pain.

Another explosion rocks the station behind them, then another, then two more! The entire view is lit up with seemingly Thousands of falling bolts of light- the majority of them speeding to a deadly landing, punching enormous holes in everything they smash into!

But not all of them surge from their wormholes to their deaths. Some- no, many- slow their descent just enough to veer away from a collision. And as they do, their true forms can now be seen…

Riss and Ja-ça both instantly recognize their design origin.

Ja-ça blinks, puzzled. "Vex? Then his face darkens. Blasted, Vex Quick-strike Fighters! If that isn’t an open declaration of war by the Censure Rite I don’t know what is!"

Riss looks closely at them as they spread out in apparently random directions- guns blazing at everything in sight. Ok, so…if their fighters are digging in, where are all their big ships?

Ja-ça blinks again. Yeah... It’s not like the Censure Rite to waste their one chance for a surprise attack with a bunch of fighter jets! ...It doesn’t make any sense…

The PA system then booms out, *ALL DEFENCE SHIPS SCRAMBLE!! KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THE ASZEN LENZ!!* Riss thinks he can almost hear a hint of panic in the man’s voice.

Hey, I hope you noticed we’re still in the thick of it, Dopey! Ja-ça screams, as another fighter whizzes past!

Riss snaps himself back to alert immediately and starts dragging he and Ja-ça back down the cable again, while what looks like the end of the universe encircles the two survivors.

*Riss, latch on!* Roice Son-kye calls from over the comm. He’s about a hundred meters ahead, wielding a grapple gun. He points it at them…

Foom! The grapple claw darn-nearly hits Riss in the middle of his visor! Still, he manages to grab onto its attached line and quickly ties Ja-ça to it.

"Don’t be stupid, Riss! Nobody’s going to care if I die! Reel yourself in first, then-"

Pull!! Riss shouts to Roice.

Whaa-!? that’s about all Ja-ça gets out before he shoots ahead wildly fast! flailing pointlessly against the force of the winch. After nearly colliding with a launching defense cruiser, he finally plows into Roice, who grabs him without further ado and throws him into an open airlock.

*Riss, you son of a-!* Ja-ça shouts before the airlock seals.

*Ok, your turn, Cap!* Roice calls, as he aims again and fires.

But as he does, something bright and burning hot flashes right in front of Riss’s eyes! The orange light blinds him into a state of semi-consciousness…

***

Something happened… ‘The cable?’ Riss asks himself. ‘Where is the cable? …Where am I? What’s going on?’ He blinks twice, maybe to clear his eyes, or maybe because of all those bright shooting stars all around him…

‘Shooting stars? That’s it!’ He is in outer space! ‘…Yes…yes, that’s it, that’s it… Above Otonoliss, to be exact. But…why?’

Riss………

‘Huh? What was that?’ It sounded like a familiar voice!

Riss…!

Okay, that time it was louder… But where on earth was it coming-?

*RISS!!*

He snaps out of semi-consciousness, blinking hard to get his focus back. He shouts back, Where- Roice, where are you?

*Riss, you’re off the main hull, floating into outer space! Hang on!* Roice’s voice calls back over the radio.

Roice! he shouts, panicking. "Are you still there, Roice?"

Nothing, only static.

He frantically looks around, searching for anything to grab- anything to slow down his rapid departure from the station.

But it is all for naught. He is directly above the Aszen Lens [I.e. the part of the planet that does the actual firing.]; and there is a good reason for nothing to be above the Aszen Lens.

Another crashing fighter nearly hits the helpless spaceman, instead careening ahead and smashing into another fighter! Before either can recover, a station defensive battery far below fires two successive rounds, first into one, then the other! The resulting explosions hurls Riss at an accelerated speed further away! Within moments all he can see ahead of him are stars…

And he knows he will never be found if he floats out there!

‘Do something, man!’ he screams inside his head. ‘DO SOMETHING!!’ He thumbs his radio again. Roice! Roice! Anybody, come in!

Still nothing. Is he too far away for the short-range radios?

"Anybody come in, I repeat, anybody come in. This is Chariot Captain Riss Len-Quéd; I am in need of immediate pickup, floating rapidly off station! Does anybody read?" He holds his breath reflexively. His jaw hurts from tensing.

The continuous hollow sound from the radio is maddening! He would smash his fist against something...if there was anything around to smash that is.

Far down below now he can see the Otonoliss Protecting Light defense armada finally exiting their hangars and digging into the Vex squadron with powerful weaponry. ‘Good’, he almost says aloud. ‘Those brutes are no match for the home force! This battle’ll end just as quickly as it began. There won’t be any victory parade for the Censure Rite today!’ Then he stops briefly as a bitter thought overcomes him. ‘Too bad I won’t be around to see it.’

Tears well up in his eyes. With an effort he blinks them away, cynically watching as they float lazily inside his visor. It seems so stupid to be crying about his own imminent death… But still, it is a bit sad to think about all the things he’ll never get the chance to experience, all the things he’ll never get to see- his unborn son for instance...or maybe it’s a daughter? His wife Did only tell him that she