The Oxorn ship glided purposefully across the darkened sky, its silhouette framed by the gleaming stars. The hum of its engines resonated over the rocky terrain below, a reminder of its formidable presence. A stern, almost regal voice emerged from the comms, cutting through the silence like a blade.
“Commander, need I remind you that not long ago, your ranks were faltering, dwindling in strength,” the voice said, clear and unyielding. “You may have fought countless battles and triumphed in many, losing few. But this war, this one, was different.”
A pause lingered, heavy and almost regretful, before she continued, her tone softer but no less reproachful. “You had the chance to lie low, to sustain until the opportune moment. But instead, you chose impatience.”
The ship descended towards the excavation site, an intricate network of reinforced tunnels and machinery sprawled out beneath the crimson lights of the Oxorn insignia. As the landing gear hissed into place, a squad of four soldiers disembarked, each distinct in stature and equipped with rifles that gleamed under the cold, artificial lights.
“We are not here to fault you for every misstep, for even we are prone to the errors of pride. Yet understand this: your request for one of our Xzedes is denied.”
The squad moved ahead, their formation splitting as they secured the perimeter. The voice on the comms, now edged with finality, resonated through the steel corridors, amplified by the echoes. “We will not build your garrisons or fortresses, Commander. The blood, sweat, and bodies of your recruits are yours to command, to twist to whatever purpose your desperation dictates.”
As the squad scanned their surroundings, moving cautiously through the arched pathway, they stopped before a wall that appeared to be a dead end. The sergeant gestured for the drill, a towering machine that whirred to life, churning and grinding as it bored into the stone.
“Don’t think for a moment that we are ignorant of your actions,” the voice continued. “It is not our concern if those who serve you do so willingly or by coercion. All we care for is this: to ensure there is sustenance when the storm arrives.”
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The drill ceased, and a sudden crack split through the wall. The structure crumbled, revealing a blinding blue glow emanating from within. The soldiers stood transfixed, their eyes wide as the light poured over them, illuminating their faces with an ethereal sheen.
“Until next time, Commander,” the voice concluded before the comms clicked off.
---
Valis sat back in his command chair, the shadows of the bridge playing across his face. His expression was stoic, revealing nothing of the storm churning beneath the surface.
Was he really expecting anything else? He probably did, after all it was something he passed and said to the council. A voice crackled through the comm line, interrupting the heavy silence.
“Commander Valis, the escalation team is reporting in,” an officer announced.
Valis nodded, pressing a button to open the channel. “Sergeant, what’s the situation?”
The sergeant’s voice, tight with urgency, replied, “Sir, we’ve breached the wall. There’s an artifact… emitting a powerful light. We’re holding our position.”
Before he could finish, a commotion erupted on the line. A young, female voice cut through the noise, breathless and defiant.
“Relax, everyone! It’s fine. I’m fine,” she said, stepping forward to touch the glowing object with her gloved hand. The other squad members shouted over her, their panic palpable.
“Don’t touch it, you idiot! We don’t know what it could do!” a male voice loud and gruff barked.
Valis, hearing the chaos, pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. “Of course. She’d be reckless,” he muttered.
“It’s… it’s not doing anything,” the young soldier said, though her voice wavered with a hint of doubt. The glow suddenly intensified, blinding them for a moment before abruptly dying down, leaving the room in stark silence. What was once a radiant beacon now appeared as a steel cuboid, unremarkable save for a single socket carved into its surface.
“Sergeant, report,” Valis said, breaking the stunned silence.
The sergeant, regaining his composure, spoke with a mix of relief and curiosity. “Sir, the artifact’s light has faded. It’s stable now. It looks like… a metallic cuboid with an empty socket, as if something was once embedded there.”
Valis’s eyes narrowed as he processed the report. “Understood. Bring the artifact back to base immediately, we will see if there's anything to be learned.”
“Yes, sir.”
The call ended, leaving Valis in silence once more. His gaze lingered on the distant stars beyond the bridge’s viewport. There were always more questions than answers, and this discovery would be no different.