(3rd-Person Narrator: Captain Stromberg)
Captain Stromberg was always in charge of the S.S. Sapiens. But this ship was in space for so long that they had to resupplied on 10 different dead planets by taking its of raw materials before continuing on. This obviously meant that an uncountable number of generations have lived since the first Stromberg.
The beginning of their journey was rough. Their fellow scientists who settled on nearby planets mostly failed to calculate how good spacesuits had to be for staying on Mercury or Venus.
They suffocated, burned, froze, or died in various different mishaps. Even then, "Nidhoggr" got them in the end and swallowed up the solar system. The S.S. Sapiens was only lucky enough to be the most advanced ship, with the most speed, preparations, people, and smartest minds. They used drones, rather than humans.
And as the crew aged and their children grew, their names were passed on as their parents stayed in cryostasis. It was a means of counting time as well as passing on hope to the next generation.
However, this productive outlook faded quickly over a few generations. After the development of nanobots, the perfection of virtual reality, and the failed experiments on the firsts condoned by their forefathers, humanity reached a stopping point. They reached their limit in the development of technology and instead indulged in the comforts of simulations and a cushy environment.
Currently, it was calculated if the ship were ever to stop or meet any obstacle at any moment now, they too would join the darkness of "Nidhoggr". So they sped on in what seemed to be the infinite space that was the universe.
(The People) "Eventually everyone will be safe."
The people said. This optimism was backed up by how much resources they had, which could last everyone for centuries. Special programs people followed made them in the best condition they would ever be. They had delicious and nutritious meals every day, increased gravity to tune their bones and muscles, freedom to work on any project. It all added together with their confidence in their strength. Only time would tell what planet humans would inhabit next.
(The People) "We will find our new home."
But that wasn't the case exactly as mathematicians failed to account for the speed of "Nidhoggr" increasing, proportional to the mass it absorbed. Thus, this ship, with its fancy artificial gravity and advanced weaponry, also got sucked into "Nidhoggr".
When their otherworldly transportation finished, the space ship basically mashed itself up. Civilians woke up by the system's emergency measures. Those in cryostasis woke up. People had merged with parts of the ship, others with each other, and some were missing body parts. Ventilation stopped working, the air became uncirculated, and people suffocated from lack of oxygen. Artificial gravity failed. Everyone was screaming and everything was chaos.
Out of a thousand escape pods, only a measly 13 were left still working. The ship's crew sent their best with Prototype Weaponry, like some Solar-Powered Power Armors and a complete Data Drive each, which held all the information humanity had left. The civilians were ignored as the remaining space suits could barely fill the remaining able-bodied crew and scientists. Even using the booming intercom wouldn't help order them anyway.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Abandoning ship, a total of 500 made it to Tekton's atmosphere. And only 20 survived the fall which included the number of survivors in the escape pods. The planet was small, but also denser than Earth, so its gravity was greater.
Captain Stromberg escaped safely in one of Scientist Sasha Muré's drop pods meant for deploying drones. He lost connection with his crew but was still alive. He was just sinking into a lake. Stromberg forced open the pod and dragged a sealed survival pack with him. As he moved across the bottom of the lake to its surface, he sighed.
Clearly, he was one of the few to survive, but those onboard their spaceship were doomed. The S.S. Sapiens was heading straight for the nearest star and already was in a 1 million meter range of it. It would be a miracle for any to survive, as they were barreling through space at high speeds. Especially for the ones with spacesuits, who jumped with nothing to stop their fall, as he witnessed a few do.
After Stromberg finally reached the air above, he checked with his devices to ensure the safety of his environment. Strangely, the readings told him it was perfect- too perfect to be truly hospitable to humans. Being skeptical, Captain Stromberg kept his bulky spacesuit on and looked around himself. Apparently, as he was messing around, quite a bit of natives decided to welcome him- fully armed.
Judging by their human shape and Phoenix coat of arms upon their metallic armor, they possibly belonged to a kingdom. Stromberg wanted to drag his hand across his face, but his suit was in the way. A medieval setting for a modern man. How fitting.
-MEANWHILE-
(3rd-Person Narrator: Roaring Thunder)
Roaring Thunder woke up the next day feeling really tired. All that business with the new stranger caused him lots of trouble. Today, Roaring Thunder would finish with this problem and continue on with life. How could one person be any more trouble?
After quickly finishing his food, he swiftly made his way to the Gathering. Although there were 10 meeting halls, each for their own divisions, there was also a place where everyone could meet in order to discuss a great matter or to inform everyone about something. The topic of today was the stranger, and how the Aurea would deal with him.
The Gathering occurred in a vast stadium constructed of living plants and a layer of "Softies", grown directly over The Lake. All the Aurea people came, yet they filled only a 1/10 of the space. Currently, they were leaning forward to see what the mayor had to announce on top of the grand arbor podium supported by Ironwood trees. This new stranger was interesting and the Aurea wanted some more action in their lives.
Roaring Thunder stood at the center as he confirmed by some swift counting that everyone was present. He spent the hour talking with scouts, informants, and the like in the time it took for everyone to gather. Then, he began his short speech.
(Roaring Thunder) "My dear Aurea! Yesterday, I made the mistake of not treating a stranger with complete kindness!"
The audience gasped at the taboo action. They waited patiently for an explanation.
(Roaring Thunder) "This was because he was so ill, so starved, so abandoned on our lands that I could not think of them as anything but an undead!"
In response, the Aurea whispered, confused.
(Roaring Thunder)"I do not know of his origins, nor of how he entered, yet it seems he is dying from an unknown sickness."
This caused a majority to be unsettled.
(Roaring Thunder) "We must find his village and cure his people. He came to us for our help and we will bring it to them!"
A roar of approval met Roaring Thunder's declaration.
(Roaring Thunder) "Now, we must address the pests that are trying to hurt our people!"
A murmur of confirmation spread out in a low hum.
(Roaring Thunder) "If we look into our past, there has been random invasions by undead and necromancers, which we have taken care of already."
The crowd began to laugh and make jeers. Attack us, the strongest? Bite the bear but be prepared to be clawed! they thought.
(Roaring Thunder) "However, there seems to be some kind of Mastermind as we have also found Surveillance Undead. This number only increases and stays at our borders. Despite constantly hunting them down, we cannot find the source."
Their previous confidence bubbled down. Suddenly, they made speculations on why.
(Roaring Thunder) "Obviously, our stranger and this increase of undead recently are connected and the Masterminds wish to strike at us soon. We must prepare for battle! We must send Patrols! Until we destroy this Evil, Humanity will not be safe!"
The crowd cheered at Roaring Thunder's determination. The Aurea had a lot ahead of them. Luckily, their hyperactive mood would help them through this.