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Plasma and Fire
Bonus Chapter 1: Vossan takes a walk.

Bonus Chapter 1: Vossan takes a walk.

Vossan sighed quietly as he looked over his two companions, before stepping out of the Walker and into the night. With only a breath the helmet encased him and displays lit up as he walked around the ruined town. Examining the scorch marks and bloodstains as he thought his way through their issues. In truth with rift tech there wasn't really a reason for the Imperium to keep ships on world here, not with every Minad still stranded here trying to fight their way out. At least not one that wasn't concerning, there were a handful of things that couldn't be moved through Rift and would warrant ships being stationed there even now.

Most were artifacts of Makian design. Artifacts that burst rift tunnels or would explode while in the rift. Creatures that mutated uncontrollably when brought through. Weapons that simply ceased to exist. There were some others though, each worrying or concerning. Some Velathuran ships held beacons that prevented Rifts from being formed around them, and the Imperium so far had failed to capture them. There was also the rare Livari artifact, technology from before they'd isolated themselves entirely from the rest of space. None of the reality benders technology survived transportation through rifts.

There was the possibility of something else entirely, but he frowned as he concluded that the most likely reason was some sort of artifact. Depending on what it was it could push the Grarvians technology forward greatly. He still couldn't quite believe that these new 'Imperial Warriors' didn't have some such discovery as the foundation for their creation. Shield generators sized for Infantry even in suits of powered armor that almost rivaled mech suits were not something the Imperium could have developed so quickly and quietly. There was the speed as well, and the strangeness with which they moved. They weren't quite as elegant as some of the Minad he knew but coming close shouldn't have been possible in such a massive suit of armor.

He crossed into the remains of what looked like a small school through a scorched hole, the concrete along the edges crumbling to dust where he touched it as he examined the ruined room of steel desks and bookshelves thoughtfully, even as his M.I.U Lissan, chose to speak to him verbally.

"High probability of artifact. Threat level is extreme."

He snorted at that, he didn't need the blasted machine to tell him that. Whatever was there was worth keeping both a garrison and the only remaining ships on world around. Giving him and his people a possible escape route. His people, even the Ancients who should have known better should be able to see this. They either didn't or were choosing to ignore it in favor of escape. At the very least he couldn't fault Varis. That poor legend had lost his memory and past, everything that made him himself. He had no way to know.

Still, he deigned to answer the parasite. "I'd already gathered that, Lissan. Any idea on what it could be? Considering they're willing to fight us, Nolians, and Velathurans for it?"

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He'd made his way through the desks and other overturned furniture to sit at what he could only assume was once the teacher's, overlooking the room in full. The scorches and blood spatters across the walls and doorway told a story to him, one of men hiding from something as he took his precious few seconds before it answered him.

"Greatest possibility is creator technology. Makian, considering security levels. There are no records or archives this unit had accessed that implied ruins in this zone. Also, once more. This unit is not a parasite."

He shook his head at that, it always insisted that it wasn't. As far as he cared they were though. Damn things wouldn't even be sentient if they hadn't been forced into him and his people. Still, they were useful and it's answer intriguing enough. "If nothing implies ruins or even a temple left behind here, Why is it still likely Makian, Lissan?" This time it answered him instantly, Shazhed thing had been waiting for him to ask.

"This unit did not have access to all records or archives. Most ruins or destroyed Makian facilities were not tracked after the war ended either. Too much destruction for the survivors to do anything but rebuild. Levels of security indicate high usefulness as well. Most outside empire species reclaim or destroy anything of use lost near Imperial territory."

"Guesswork then, still probably accurate guesswork. If it truly is some kind of artifact or Makian technology, not something we can leave laying around....don't go spilling my suspicions to any other Minad, or their M.I.U. Not until we've had more time to think on it."

This time it didn't speak, but he could feel it's agreement as he stood. Looking once more at the splatters of blood and scorches covering the room. Whatever came through here wasn't a Velathuran. The way the blood was sprayed wildly, they didn't attack people like that. Even the newborns preferred to simply batter you to death. He froze as he turned to leave, eyes marking the splotch of yellow blood sprayed against the wall next to where he'd come in. It had dried as well but the color was unmistakably that of a Minads blood. As he came closer and had the sensors in his helmet scan it, his frown turned into an outright scowl. He could see specks of violet and red mixed in with the yellow. Even as the HUD on his helmet displayed the impossibility.

Blood Identified: Minad

The blood of Minad was purely yellow. No other colors mixed in, and it wasn't identifying anything else. Something was very wrong about this, and Vossan probably wouldn't be finding any answers here. He forced himself to ignore the unease and walked back towards the Walker intent on truthfully sleeping this time.

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