Here's something I started writing last night, I had no intention of writing this, but once I started I couldn't stop and by time I ended it I had a plan in mind to continue this story on.
I haven't written any chapters of my sci-fi book in a while, but this story is connected to that story in a way. It's set about 18 years before the main story of the book, at the time when Free Space was first invaded by the Confederation. It centers around the capital of Free Space, Jex.
Here's A Link To The Chapters In Order
I am writing this book exclusively on Hive, once the main story is finished I will be editing it and publishing it, or maybe even minting it on chain too. I will look into options once I have completed the book. But, if you want to read it, there's a link.
The skies for miles around were in flames, from the colours Krazack Morda could see, that's the only image that came to mind. Flickering neon lights of the city coupled with the dancing devastation, made for a sickly beautiful spectacle, from his position on the ground all he could do was look out from the ruined building he hid inside when the attack started. The sharp searing pain emanating from his back had made him not want to move, for fear of disturbing his wounds. During the annihilation of his city, Krazack had been caught unawares. The Confederation ships were in orbit for days, their foreboding presence only made clear by the sheer number of ships in their fleet.
It was a warm day. Wasn't it?... The thought cut off abruptly as another wave of pain came over him. Gritting his teeth he managed to get to his feet, his left leg was warm. He imagined that was because of the scorch marks that wrapped around his body, holding his skin in a tight and constant grip. He strained with each step, leaning heavily on his right leg. The screams and chaos had quieted down outside: Where once there was a choir of despair, there was now a graveyard.
Peering through the shell that was once a building, he could see only mist and smoke, wafting gently in and around the environment. Krazack thought the whole scene was surreal. How? Only hours from utter destruction, the world reset itself. To what? Tranquility? He nodded on that one. That was a fitting word for it. The stillness after a storm.
His mind conjured up an image, a false one perhaps. He couldn't validate it. A hazy recollection of one of the large cruisers over head, the bone shattering sound it made prompting everyone to look up. There was a light which charged up from the ships weapons, finally it spat a hot energy beam down on them. Most people were too shocked to run. Instead, they just stared up at the blast as it came crashing against the ground, like an unyielding wave.
If I have any hope of surviving this, I need a medi-pack. Slowly he lumbered out into the streets. Jex, it was the epicenter of the civilized galaxy, the heart of Free Space. Now, a husk of it's former self. He continued walking, listening to the repetitive squeak that followed him. The squeak would announce itself at the start of his movement, once the loop came to a close, he would hear a slight crunch. The rhythm would continue in that fashion, the only thing that would change was the speed of it, depending on his own pace. The music it made took over, it helped to have something to concentrate on.
Krazack Morda knew there was a pharmacy along this street. Everything looks so different. Am I on the street I think I am? He second guessed himself and looked around for any notable point of interest: Some stand out, familiar building. Where was I? Where was I just hiding? What was that building? He tried to think, but drew a blank. He was sure he was inside, but, was he? Raising a hand to his head to quell an incoming headache. The pain intensified, his hand came away from his skull wet. The ache he felt was enough to invade his mind, he was not only feeling sore from his wounds, he was feeling it from his imagination too, completely fabricated pain, which burned as hot as the flames which dotted the area around him.
Falling to his knees cradling his face. All he could do was scream, as he shirked over he could feel his jacket finally loosen. It had been stiff since the event. Now he knew why. The fabrics had fused to his body. In the time it had taken him to get on his feet and start moving, his flesh must have healed around it. His fashion sense and body had become one, there was no end or beginning now.
He was unable to take it anymore, he closed his eyes, to the last of the neon lights that blinked off beat around him. The towers that once stretched so far had bent their knee to the enemy. Krazack knew he had to give in too.
What Are Your Orders?
The Director of Glass, Harvat Gnush, let the guilt wash over him. He forced his lip not to quiver as he looked down to the planet below. The fleet had been orbiting the planet for hours since the assault. Some of the smaller cruisers had descended, investigating the surface of Jex for any Free Space resistance.
The fleet had done a thorough job of it. Nothing could survive that. He wouldn't utter those callas words aloud. But, even saying them in his mind made his lip twitch.
"Director Harvat. Brigadier Runish is en route." Harvat was snapped out of his day dream. "Here? To the Ordnance Hall? Why?" He enquired, almost in a panic. Jichaes, the second in command shrugged slightly. "He never said. Maybe he wants to inspect the handy-work of your cannons personally." That was the only reasonable reason for a personal audience with the Brigadier.
Harvat looked through the window of the carrier class cruiser, at the planet below. The ship was the largest of this particular fleet, the flagship in a way, based soley on size. Dubbed New Rotchnock, on account of the Rotchi Engineers who helped design and create the ship. It housed a total of 11,500 people. It took over 1,000 people to operate the ship, those jobs covered everyone from the control centre to the sanatorium. With a reserve of 500 people, waiting to fill the role of anyone who, for what ever reason could not continue to work. The other 10,000 members of the crew were assigned soldiers of all ranks and disciplines. Everyone from fighter pilots, to on ground medics. Men and woman who treated the cruiser as their own personal holiday resort.
Harvat walked to his control desk and sat behind it, he didn't even want to pretend to work. Instead he just wanted to sit back and look straight ahead, down the large hall, between the rows of crew manning and operating their positions, to the doors oppisite him.
Before he knew it, the doors parted, sinking behind the walls of the ship, unveiling the Brigadier Captain, Runish. Followed closely by two Rotchi, his own personal escort. Looking at these Rotchi who had joined the Confederation ranks, was still hard for Harvat. They were larger than the average man. Apart from their appendages, they were completely covered in fine, spikey, black hairs. They had a set of antenna protruding from the crowns of their skulls and had mandibles, as well as large eyes, which were like a hundred small mirrors combined. "Brigadier on deck!" Harvat heard one of the juniors shout, which launched him from his chair. Standing to attention, awaiting Runish and his Rotchi bodyguards.
Harvat's chest got tight as Runish approached him. Still uncertain about the visit. Harvat then started to think that he could be angry, Runish's face gave nothing away. "Together we are strong." Harvat heard himself unconsciously state once Runish got closer. He doesn't look impressed. Harvat felt himself sweat as he thought of the worst case scenario. He's not happy. If he replies "Unless some are weak." I'm dead.
"Divided we fall." Runish blankly replied. Harvat felt a slight relief when he heard the reply. "Brigadier, it's a pleasant surprise to have you down here." "A surprise I know, but, after seeing the short work these weapons made of Jex, I felt compelled to come down here and personally speak with the man who gave the orders to fire. How do you feel? You have made history today and revealed to Free Space what happens when you start raiding Confederation worlds." Runish spoke with an air of arrogance. His speech was purposely bloated, over announcing each word and leaving enough of a pause behind each stop to bask in his own glory.
"I'm happy to be a member of the crew: To be apart of this campaign." Harvat said in a deflated tone, hardly able to portray any joy in his voice.
"I am thinking of our next target. The world known as Beskin has been putting up heavy resistance, they are known as the ship builders of Free Space so it's no wonder. Dosha is another option, entire patrols are going missing there. That world would burn nicely. As I hear from my Rotchi counterparts, it is a Forest planet. Home to every known species of plant and animal in Free Space." While Runish spoke he walked to the window, pausing to admire the flames and smoke below.
"Trisk. Trisk is the last option, it's close, the fleet stationed there has requested aid and as I hear it, the Triskens are a formidable bunch. They orbit the same star as the Gnosians after all, so it's safe to assume they would be a tough lot." Runish continued.
Harvat didn't know how to respond, instead he just waited for Runish to continue, which no doubt he was going to. Harvat noticed one of the Rotchi staring at him, he looked back at the creature, blankly. Runish then turned around, with a slight smile.
"Thank you for your silence, I have made my decision. We move out to Trisk, destroying that army will break the will of the rest of Free Space. If other planets see the Triskens have fallen, they should be less likely to fight us." "Excellent idea, the Triskens will act as a beacon of hope to the others. Lets extinguish it." One of the Rotchi coldly stated, their basic was great. Even if slightly bastardized in pronunciation.
"I assumed we were going to send in ground forces, Brigadier. Force a surrender of some sort now that we've weakened Jex." Harvat said. Runish looked at Harvat with a bewildered look on his face.
"They did surrender. I received communications from their leadership shortly after we arrived. I formally accepted and told them that on the conditions of their surrender I would leave Jex Lesser, untouched. You see, Jex operates in a symbiotic relationship with itself. Jex, is the common name of the planet and is the name given to the largest of the two continents. Jex Lesser is a smaller continent, but houses all of the leadership of the world. They gladly accepted the terms. Jex too, is a symbol, a symbol of strength, of power. It's the capital of Free Space after all." Runish turned once more to the window and outstretched his arms before him.
"In this one move we have both tested the destructive potential of the weapons created by the Rotchi. As well as that we have shattered the spirit of the people. Seeing the planet with the most economic power fall, will ensure we win this war. Trisk is next and will surely be a point well made without speaking. Trisk will be another testing ground for a new devious weapon our Rotchi allies have created. " Harvat could only stare as Runish as he finished speaking. Standing with his back to Harvat silhouetted by the orange hue of the burning world below.