Bajes's arrival at the medical wing painted a grim picture, one reminiscent of a battlefield aftermath rather than a place of healing. The sight of soldiers and civilians alike, lifeless or barely clinging to life, and the doctors swiftly categorizing them with black, red, and yellow ribbons was a stark introduction to the severity of their situation. These colors, understood universally within their ranks, signified the immediate fate of the wounded: black for those beyond help, red for those needing urgent care, and yellow for injuries that could wait. Under normal circumstances, Bajes's condition would warrant a black ribbon—a sobering thought.
He was ushered into an operating room and sedated, his consciousness fading into the depths of sleep, where memories of past tragedies surfaced. Among these was his inaugural mission as a general, a day that began with the weight of command and quickly escalated to a critical assignment.
Gathered in the war strategy room were Bajes's most trusted officers: Maria, Da'Lana, Abdul, Lithugaraha (the Varkarian), and Da'Fraye (his brother-in-law and Da'Lana's younger brother). Each of them fixed their gaze on Bajes as he relayed the mission details, projecting the message directly into his and their collective vision. "Head to the Omicron solar system and investigate planet Omicron 4. We've detected signs of ancient technology. A Silicarid research team was sent but has since fallen silent. Your task is to investigate and report your findings directly to the council. This mission requires your personal attention and the accompaniment of a highly skilled and trusted team. Be advised, the system's star is nearing the end of its life cycle, rendering the planet's surface inhospitable."
As Bajes concluded, he prompted his team for their input with a simple, "What do you think?"
Abdul was the first to break the silence. "This sucks," he declared, his tone a mix of frustration and scepticism. "A research team goes missing, and their solution is to dispatch an entire fleet yet specify only an elite squad for ground operations ? Sounds fishy to me."
His sentiments echoed around the room, a unanimous agreement among the officers. The ensuing discussion veered towards logistics—debating the necessary equipment and identifying additional personnel to accompany them on this perilous journey.
After a gruelling three-hour discussion, Bajes dissolved the meeting, allowing his officers to proceed with their assigned tasks. Under normal circumstances, he would have supervised their preparations. However, today was different. Retreating to his chambers, Bajes initiated a connection to the communication matrix projection, seeking an audience with Empress Terellia.
Fifteen minutes passed before her projection materialized before him, mirroring her real form within the confines of the communication matrix. Bajes offered his greetings and sought permission to speak candidly. Granted permission, he adopted a more relaxed posture and broached the subject that weighed heavily on his mind. "Ta'Dama, what is the true objective behind my mission?" he inquired, his tone laced with earnest curiosity.
Empress Terellia, with a knowing smile, responded, "I was curious when you'd ask, Ta'Bajes." She paused momentarily, gathering her thoughts. "Our initial theory was that Omicron 4 harboured technology akin to what was discovered on Mars. Hence, we dispatched a research team, accompanied by an elite force, to secure and study it. This team comprised the finest from the Silicarids and Varkarians, under the agreement that any ancient psi technology uncovered would be shared, should they prove compatible."
Bajes absorbed this revelation, understanding the gravity of the situation. He pressed further, "Do you anticipate conflict? Is that why my entire fleet has been mobilized?"
Empress Terellia's response was swift and decisive. "Trouble is always a consideration, which is precisely why I chose you for this mission. Your proven ability to navigate perilous situations made you the ideal candidate. You're one of the youngest commanders to ever lead a fleet in our history for a reason. Prepare for the worst. The fleet's presence is to ensure your safety and operational success on Omicron 4, especially if rebels are involved. You'll have the means to defend yourself and maintain control should the situation escalate."
She continued, her tone grave, "The missing team consisted of thirty elite soldiers, each an A-class combatant of their respective races, and masters of melee combat. If an adversary was capable of overpowering them, be prepared for a formidable challenge. Should the situation spiral beyond control, your priority is to evacuate and, if necessary, obliterate the planet. Your flagship possesses the capability to execute such a measure."
Bajes acknowledged the briefing with a nod, signalling his understanding and readiness to proceed. "Understood. That information suffices for me," he stated, prepared to disconnect the communication. However, Empress Terellia interjected, indicating there were additional matters to discuss.
"Hold, Ta'Bajes. There are two more points of concern," the Empress began, her tone suggesting the gravity of what she was about to disclose. "Firstly, the Arachnex have remained conspicuously silent regarding this mission. Their lack of effort to assert involvement is so uncharacteristic that it can only be deliberate. They're concealing something from us—and we share this opinion with Silicarids. "
She paused briefly before continuing, "Secondly, we've lost communication with three colonies—one being humanity's first outside the Sol system, and the other two are Arachnex colonies. We've detected signs of a significant galactic conflict, likely the work of rebels. The Arachnex have been transparent, providing reports openly, whereas the humans have been less forthcoming. Only a handful of rebel factions possess the capability to silence entire planets, which underscores the necessity of deploying the fleet."
Concluding her briefing with a lighter note, Empress Terellia inquired, "And Ta'Bajes, when might I expect grandchildren from you and Da'Lana?"
Choosing to sidestep her personal inquiry, Bajes replied respectfully, "Thank you, Ta'Dama. Your insights are invaluable. Farewell." With that, he severed the communication link and immediately reached out to Da'Lana to relay the Empress's additional insights.
Da'Lana, upon hearing the details, remarked, "As expected, Abdul's instincts were on point, despite his usual demeanour and laziness"
Bajes concurred, and they proceeded to deliberate over who would take command during their absence. Da'Lana proposed, "Let Maria oversee the fleet. She's a competent commander and warrior. However, against A-rank adversaries, she stands little chance. It's better she remains here, coordinating our forces."
Once again, Bajes found himself in agreement with Da'Lana's assessment. Together, they finalized their preparations for the mission, ensuring everything was in order before allowing themselves a brief respite.
The following day, Bajes entered the command room with a sense of purpose. "Prepare for warp to the Omicron solar system. Elevate the battle station to warning level. Civilians are to be confined to their quarters until we revert to normal status," he commanded, his voice echoing with authority. The massive ship, a behemoth capable of housing up to 500,000 individuals, bristled with readiness. Onboard were not just personnel but their families too, making these vessels less like military installations and more like floating cities on long-term voyages. Equipped with advanced gravitational technologies and spanning 5 to 7 kilometers in length, these ships were designed for self-sustenance, unable to land on standard planets but possessing the raw power to obliterate them if necessary. Typically, a massive ship like the one Bajes commanded would be flanked by 10 to 20 large ships or carriers, alongside up to 100 medium and small vessels, making up a fleet housing anywhere from 1.5 to 4.5 million souls. Only mother ship fleets surpassed them in scale, with the Galactic United Fleet boasting only 20 such titans.
Bajes seamlessly integrated with the ship's systems, sifting through hundreds of reports with practiced ease. The most critical among these was the warp countdown: three minutes until the entire fleet synchronized for the jump. As the timer hit zero, they were propelled through space, a monumental surge of energy marking their departure. Subsequent reports flowed in, detailing the status of cooling systems and other routine post-warp concerns.
Da'Lana's message soon arrived, a direct link to Bajes's console. "Shields will be operational in three minutes. No hostile entities detected nearby. Once shields are up, we'll proceed to Omicron 4, with an estimated time of arrival in seven hours. Should we maintain the battle station at warning level?"
"Keep it," Bajes responded without hesitation. The precaution was necessary; the unknowns of their mission weighed heavily on his mind.
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It wasn't long before Abdul's voice cut through, a direct connection bridging the distance between them. "This is going to escalate, bro. I've got a really bad feeling about this." His words, tinged with apprehension, underscored the gravity of their undertaking.
Upon receiving the unsettling update from Abdul, Bajes immediately took charge, issuing orders with a calm yet firm resolve. "Abdul is to remain non-combatant and oversee our outpost. We'll deploy in three squads for a total of fifty personnel on the ground. Abdul will coordinate the defense of our landing zone, where twenty of our number will secure the perimeter. The rest will split into three teams led by our core group." His strategy was clear, designed to maintain a stronghold while exploring the mysterious site.
As they disembarked, Bajes, flanked by Da'Lana, Da'Fraye, and Lithugaraha, along with six soldiers, ventured into the unknown terrain. Lithugaraha broke the uneasy silence, voicing the unease that hung heavy in the air. "The absence of any signs—no communications, active psi links, distress signals, or even remnants of the research team—is deeply troubling."
Da'Fraye concurred, adding a note of concern as they approached a fork in the path. Bajes, acting on an inexplicable intuition, chose a direction with certainty. Da'Lana, curious about his decision-making, inquired, "Why this way?" Bajes confessed to acting on a gut feeling, his thoughts clouded with uncertainty and memories of a similar underground complex on Mars from his childhood.
The eerie familiarity of their surroundings unnerved him, especially the total darkness that enveloped them. His mind raced back to his first encounter with the ancient psi link—an event marked by a similar blackout. Was history repeating itself here on Omicron 4?
Suddenly, a voice, familiar yet out of place, issued a warning: "This is not our building; it belongs to the parasites. Leave now." Bajes, driven by the mission's urgency, chose to ignore the caution and pressed forward into the heart of the hall, convinced that the voice's concern, while well-intentioned, could not deter him from his objective.
As the team followed Bajes deeper into the complex, an urgent communication from Abdul disrupted the tense silence. "Bajes, one of the teams has gone silent! I repeat, one team has gone silent!" The message was a stark reminder of the dangers they faced, prompting every member of the group to draw their psi batons and laser weapons, ready for whatever threat lay ahead.
Upon reaching the centre of the complex, Bajes encountered an artifact that bore a striking resemblance to the one from his memories of Mars, yet distinct in its form and inscription. Before him stood a metal glass, its emptiness contrasted by the cryptic letters etched upon it. Reading aloud, Bajes deciphered, "Those who dream of true power, those who seek glory should take a sip."
Da'Lana, puzzled by his understanding, questioned, "You can read that? What language is it?" Bajes, equally startled by his unique comprehension, wondered aloud if her translator was malfunctioning, only to realize that, inexplicably, none of his companions could interpret the text. This anomaly was baffling, given the psi link's function as an automatic translator, capable of converting any spoken or written language into one's native tongue.
The group exchanged bewildered glances, grappling with the implications of this discovery. "Let's return," he urged, sensing the urgency to retreat.
Bajes initiated a communication with Maria, instructing her with a sense of finality, "Prepare a planetary bombardment. We'll use the sigma bomb at full capacity. I want nothing left of this planet." His order was a drastic measure, reflecting the grave threat they perceived.
Attempting to reach the landing post for an update, Bajes found the channel ominously silent. The team halted, frozen by the sudden realization of their isolation. Without hesitation, Bajes contacted Maria once more, requesting an emergency extraction. "ETA 30 minutes," was the response.
As they resumed their cautious advance, the group's sensors detected movement—an unknown psi link, an ominous sign in the silent corridors. Prepared for confrontation, they braced for the appearance of what they assumed would be a hostile entity. However, the sensors soon identified the unknown psi link as being closely followed by a familiar one, belonging to Abdul.
Bajes, desperate for answers, attempted to establish contact with Abdul, to no avail. Resorting to a direct query of Abdul's health status through his psi link, Bajes was confronted with a dire warning: Abdul was on the brink of death. Overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions and driven by a fierce resolve, Bajes charged towards the signal, determined to reach his friend in time.
In the midst of chaos, Bajes encountered a figure unlike any other, a Silicard researcher, identified by the unique design of his external skeleton. The figure was dragging Abdul behind him, prompting Bajes to issue a stern ultimatum: "Drop to the ground and release that soldier. This is your only warning." The Silicarid's response was cryptic and ominous, "You are all unworthy, unable to alter your fate, destined for extinction."
As tensions escalated, both Bajes and the Silicarid charged, their confrontation marked by the clashing of psi batons and a resulting shockwave that startled both combatants. Bajes, despite unleashing his full strength, found his opponent's power nearly overwhelming. The Silicarid, equally taken aback, recognized a formidable adversary in Bajes, demanding, "Name yourself, brother!" This unexpected call for identification added confusion to the already tense situation.
Observing the Silicarid's combat prowess, Bajes strategically withdrew to assess his opponent's technique and strength. Remarkably, the Silicarid held his ground against nine of the galaxy's elite soldiers, his movements suggesting an ability to anticipate their attacks. This demonstration of skill and power was unlike anything Bajes had witnessed.
Amid the battle, a familiar yet distant voice resonated within Bajes's mind, offering a solution at a great cost: "If you want them to survive, let me take over." Bajes's immediate refusal, "Over my dead body!" highlighted his determination to protect his comrades without surrendering to an unknown entity's control.
Da'Lana, momentarily distracted by Bajes's outburst, mistakenly assumed he was communicating with Maria via their psi link. Refocused on the conflict, Bajes rejoined the fray, determined to turn the tide in their Favor.
The Silicarid, seizing an opportunity amidst the chaos, executed a series of acrobatic maneuvers that culminated in a devastating strike against one of the soldiers. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the room, instantly severing the soldier's life signs and leaving the team in shock.
The battle intensified, pushing Bajes and his team to their limits as they faced an adversary whose skills seemed beyond their comprehension. The Silicarid's caution was particularly evident when confronting Bajes, countering his attacks with precision and care. In a display of extraordinary agility, the Silicarid executed a manoeuvre that left Bajes and his team reeling: a leap that, despite Bajes's anticipation, turned into a spin that not only evaded Bajes's counter but also took down another soldier while dangerously positioning itself behind Da'Lana.
Time seemed to halt for Bajes at the prospect of losing Da'Lana, triggering a desperate plea within him for assistance from the unknown presence within. Surrendering control, Bajes's body moved with newfound autonomy, defending Da'Lana with a prowess that finally put the Silicarid on the defensive. The Silicarid, confused and frustrated, exclaimed, "Why do you protect them, brother? We are meant to dominate, not serve. They are the universe's scourge!"
Bajes, now a spectator within his own body, sought answers to the Silicarid's accusations but found himself unable to communicate, his body commandeered by an unseen force. The tide of the battle began to shift with the collective efforts of Bajes's team landing their first substantial hits on the Silicarid, though none as critical as those delivered by Bajes himself.
After Bajes regained control of his body, the Silicarid's movements became noticeably slower and less forceful, clearly affected by the damage it had sustained. Together, Bajes and his team methodically pressed their advantage, driving the Silicarid back until it halted its assault, its psi baton clattering to the ground. With a resigned gaze, the Silicarid addressed Bajes, "We are not the only ones. Our sisters and brothers have already been revived; my death is inconsequential."
At that moment, a voice inside Bajes's head urgently warned, "He has initiated the temple's auto-destruction sequence. Run!" Without hesitation, Bajes scooped up Abdul, shouting, "We must escape, now!" The first tremors under their feet confirmed the worst; the temple was collapsing.
As they sprinted, pushing their external psi skeletons to their limits, one of the soldiers succumbed to overheating and collapsed. Da'Lana, ever pragmatic, urged, "We can't stop for him now—keep moving!" Her words were harsh but necessary. Exiting the temple, they were greeted by the grim sight of numerous fallen soldiers and a critically damaged transport ship.
Bajes immediately established a link with the ship command. "Maria, we're in serious trouble. Where's our transport?" he inquired anxiously. "Two minutes out," Maria responded. Sensing the urgency, Bajes instructed, "Forget a traditional landing; just open the rear hatch for us." "Understood," Maria confirmed.
As their escape vessel descended with its hatch open, the team made daring leaps aboard. Bajes, carrying Abdul, was among the first to secure their entry. Tragically, the last soldier to attempt the jump fell short, crashing to the ground below. Struggling to rise, it was clear he'd overheated beyond recovery. Bajes was torn, poised to attempt a rescue, but Da'Fraye intervened, "We're all aboard. It's time to go." With a heavy heart, Bajes acquiesced, the ship pulling away as they left the doomed planet and its secrets behind.
As Bajes focused on Abdul, removing his helmet to reveal lifeless eyes, the weight of the moment overwhelmed him. Then, the voice in his head returned, announcing the release of the suppression on his health information. Suddenly, Bajes's critical condition became apparent to everyone present, revealing that his health status had been concealed.
Confusion and dizziness seized Bajes as the reality of his situation set in. He stumbled, losing his balance and clarity of thought. Da'Lana, acting quickly, supported him to the ground, where they urgently began to extricate him from his external skeleton, recognizing the grave threat to his life.
This moment marked the second instance in Bajes's life where his powers had been pushed beyond their limits, a rare and dangerous occurrence that placed him at the brink of death. The urgency and concern of his team were palpable as they worked to stabilize him, understanding the severe consequences of such overuse of psi abilities.