The damp, sterile air of the Technokratium detention facility was suffocating. Rows of metal cells glimmered faintly under the cold white lights, their occupants reduced to shadows behind energy barriers. Kyren Axalor crouched behind a cargo crate, his pulse steady despite the tension coursing through him. Beside him, Thalira Vorneth adjusted her tactical visor, scanning for enemy patrols.

"Ready, Axalor?" Thalira's voice was a low murmur, her tone resolute.

Kyren gave a single nod, gripping the hilt of his energy blade. "Let’s light this spark."

At the far end of the corridor, Vexara Lurenthis worked swiftly at a control terminal, her fingers dancing across holographic keys. The resistance had infiltrated the heart of the facility, and the stakes were higher than ever. Tonight, they would free the captives who represented the galaxy's best hope for rebellion—or die trying.

The Spark of Rebellion

With a sharp beep, the terminal released a series of alerts. Vexara’s voice crackled through the comms."Security override initiated. You’ve got a ten-minute window before the system locks me out."

Thalira smirked, her eyes blazing with determination. "Ten minutes is all we need."

The energy barriers fizzled and collapsed, and chaos erupted. Prisoners poured from the cells, some hesitating, others rushing forward with primal ferocity. Kyren darted into the melee, slicing through a Technokrat guard who raised a plasma rifle.

Thalira, ever the tactician, rallied the freed prisoners. "Grab weapons from the guards! We fight our way out!"

Among the chaos, Kyren caught sight of a familiar face—Jorek Aldan, a former Talvoth commander, bruised but unbroken. Their eyes met briefly, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"We’re with you," Jorek said, grabbing a fallen guard’s blaster.

Kyren nodded. "Stay close. We’re not out yet."

The Resistance Gains Momentum

Outside the detention facility, the battle intensified. Drayk Zenaros, lurking in the shadows, observed the chaos with a calculating gaze. As a Phantom Syndicate operative, his allegiance was murky at best, but tonight he had chosen to tip the scales in the resistance's favor—for reasons he kept to himself.

Drayk activated a concealed device, disrupting the Technokratium’s communication network. The guards, now isolated, struggled to coordinate, their movements growing erratic.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"I hope you’re enjoying the show," Drayk muttered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Back inside, Vexara’s voice cut through the commotion. "Kyren, the escape route is clear, but reinforcements are inbound. You need to move—now!"

"Understood," Kyren replied. He turned to Thalira. "Time to go."

Thalira’s expression darkened as she glanced at the remaining prisoners. "We’re not leaving anyone behind."

A Desperate Escape

The group surged toward the exit, a makeshift army of freed captives armed with scavenged weapons. Outside, the desert air of Talvoth stung their faces, and the night sky blazed with laser fire and explosions. Resistance fighters clashed with Technokratium forces, the cacophony of war echoing across the landscape.

Vexara sprinted toward the group, her eyes wide with urgency. "We’ve got incoming! Drop ships, three clicks north!"

"Perfect," Thalira muttered. "We’ll give them a welcome they won’t forget."

Kyren spotted an abandoned hovercraft and gestured to it. "That’ll buy us time. Get everyone onboard!"

As they piled into the vehicle, Drayk appeared from the shadows, his demeanor calm but enigmatic. "Need a hand?"

Thalira eyed him warily. "What’s your angle, Zenaros?"

"Let’s just say the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Drayk replied, stepping aboard.

The Turning Tide

The hovercraft roared to life, skimming over the desert sands as Technokratium forces closed in. Kyren manned the turret, firing bursts of plasma at pursuing enemy craft.

Vexara shouted over the din. "The rendezvous point is just ahead, but we’ll need to hold them off!"

Thalira grabbed a rifle, joining Kyren in the fight. The air around them ignited with explosions and searing beams of light. Despite the odds, the resistance held their ground, determination driving them forward.

Amidst the chaos, Kyren felt a strange sensation—a pulsing energy emanating from a small artifact tucked into his belt. It was a fragment of the Astralis Cube, its power faint but unmistakable.

"Vexara!" he called out. "This thing—it’s reacting!"

Vexara’s eyes widened. "If it’s activating now, it could mean—"

Her words were cut short as a blinding light enveloped the battlefield. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

A Shattered Sky

When the light subsided, the hovercraft screeched to a halt. Above them, the night sky was no longer a tapestry of stars—it was fractured, as if the very fabric of reality had splintered.

From the rift emerged a colossal, otherworldly vessel, its design unlike anything seen before. The Technokratium forces faltered, their weapons falling silent. Even Thalira, unshakable in battle, stared in awe and terror.

Kyren tightened his grip on the artifact, its energy now surging uncontrollably. "What the hell is that?"

Vexara’s voice was barely a whisper. "I think... it’s the Astralis."

As the shadow of the massive ship loomed over them, a deep, resonant voice echoed across the battlefield, its origin unclear.

"You have awakened us. Now, the reckoning begins."