Memory transcription subject: Slanek, Venlil Space Corps
Date [standardized aurigan time]: Fall 8, 1 AA
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The raid sirens were blaring overhead, and I thought for sure I was going to die. Panic welled up in my chest as everyone around me started to stampede. I covered my ears and tried to focus, but fear overwhelmed me, and my legs seized up.
Then a large shadow swooped down on me, and I was picked up in the arms of a large, furry biped. I looked up to see the worried face of Tal, the gauran that I'd met on the mezari dropship. "Slanek, what's happening? Why is the world screehing?" He asked me, worry in his voice, but not panic.
"It-t's the raid sirens. Enemy ships are approaching the planet. W-we need to get to a shelter, now!" I managed to blurt out, looking up at the gauran, pleading that he take us to safety. He took one more look around at the panicked masses and then spoke into his radio.
"This is commander Tal of the Gauran Chiefdom to any aurigan forces in the city. Those sirens mean we have hostiles incoming, help anyone you can to the nearest bunker, before they trample each other under foot!" He was so calm, despite all that was going on. I could hardly believe it.
He then focused his gaze back down at me and placed a hand on my back, holding me with incredible care, as if I were made of glass.
"We'll get to safety, don't worry." Despite the painful memories of previous stampedes, I felt like I could trust him, so I just nodded and closed my eyes.
I could feel the wind in my fur as he ran through the streets with me in his arms, despite screams, shouts, and the sound of thousands of feet trampling all over the place.
Eventually I opened my eyes, looking around. I could see dozens of aurigans doing their best to carry injured venlil, help those fallen up to their feet, and stopping the panicked ones from trampling anyone.
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They were grabbing weeping civilians off the ground, pulling them out of cars, and carrying them out of buildings. I even saw them stop to help car crash victims from collisions caused by terrified drivers.
Normally medics would rush to the injured after the lockdown was over, but the mezari did the opposite, tending to the venlil right in the middle of the stampede. I saw the sisters of mercy descending from the heavens in shuttles, and picking up the injured up right out of the streets, using ships normally designed for transporting troops in order to ferry people to the shelters.
Allayi and drakken were flying overhead, keeping an eye on the city from above, and I wondered what they were doing, until I started to pay attention to what was coming in through Tal's radio. They were co-ordinating the evacuation! Giving the aurigans on the ground information about injuries, pile ups, and crowded areas.
At the drop of a bell the aurigans dropped everything and began helping everyone they could, despite the risk it posed to themselves.
I looked up at Tal, the question burning in my throat. "H-how are Aurigans so calm?" I asked, and the lumbering man looked down at me with a curious look. "Because... Because getting ourselves to safety isn't as important as getting as many people to safety as possible. We must protect the herd, not ourselves."
"B-but what if it's Arxur? D-don't you fear the cattle ships?"
"If any gray-hide lizard thinks he can eat me, he'll have to fight me to the death for it. I'm not going to just keel over and die for him. Hell, I've seen them fight, they're scrawny, barely more than skin and bone. I bet I could take on ten at once!"
Tal's boast made me snicker, and judging by the look in his eye, he was certainly aiming to amuse. "I'm sure you could, friend Tal..." I then said, before burying my face back into his chest.
The gauran held me close all the way to the shelter. At the entrance I saw aurigans dropping off and helping wounded venlil get into the shelters, before heading back into the city to gather more. Their bravery was something beyond my comprehension.
As Tal put me down, I clung to his fur, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Please don't go back there, you'll be safer in the shelters." I begged, but he just calmly shook his head.
"I'm sorry, friend Slanek. I must go back to help. It would be selfish for me not to." Tal then gingerly patted my head, before going back to help others. Part of me wanted to go back with him, but as the wave of civilians pushed against me, I was swept with the crowed into the shelter.