The GALEX Incident - Prelude to the Forgotten War

[CBR JGWRR]

YES!! I was really hoping someone would notice that reference and what I was trying to imply!

I do plan on this detail becoming relevant in the main story. Araj is not going to respond well when his new "favorite savage" pretends not to know him. I want the conflict between protagonist and antagonist in this story to feel really personal.

Poor Ino...

 

[jak7139]

Ino's mental health crises get even worse...

This incident definitely makes Araj a hate-able enough villain.

If I remember correctly from the preview in The Broke Gates, he's sort of an outlier among Dessticans with his fascination with humans. So, this thing with Ino wasn't really even for strategic purposes (go spy on the up-and-coming officer who destroyed a Coalition battleship). He just did this because he wanted to.

Hopefully, the mind-wipe means Prisban won't be wrongfully detained for this. But his relationship with Ino is going to be weird, to say the least, going forward.

 

[crisrko]

yeah we don't like Araj

 

[Macavity116]

This incident definitely makes Araj a hate-able enough villain.

yeah we don't like Araj

The main story hasn't even started yet and Araj is already set to join the ranks of my more memorable villains and antagonists. Akira Robinson, Erin Hyatt, Pascal Etienne, Sun Xishan, Ellex Camber, and Malum Ralpakin would be so proud.

If I remember correctly from the preview in The Broken Gates, []Araj is] sort of an outlier among Dessticans with his fascination with humans. So, this thing with Ino wasn't really even for strategic purposes (go spy on the up-and-coming officer who destroyed a Coalition battleship). He just did this because he wanted to.

You do remember correctly.

Hopefully, the mind-wipe means Prisban won't be wrongfully detained for this. But his relationship with Ino is going to be weird, to say the least, going forward.

You know... now that I've had time to think on it, there is still a possible way I could do the "Prisban doesn't trust Ino" subplot. Even if Ino did defend him in the previous chapter, the military chain of command might still get the wrong impression from the whole situation. Just like in real-life, Prisban could be put under investigation without Ino's say-so. Her report was unrestricted, and those medics might have been able to shoot off a message to their superiors before the CSA agents modified their memories.

 

[Macavity116]

Welcome to the final chapter of The GALEX Incident

<=== Previous (Part Six)

Next (Unsung Paragons of the Forgotten War) ===>​

​

The GALEX Incident
Part 7

---

Ino Esperanta seen at Spacedock aboard the Tau Ceti Starbase sometime before the Forgotten War.

Four days after the GALEX Incident, the crew of the starship Defiance was ordered to return to duty. Ino and Prisban travelled to spacedock together, and along the way, hundreds of Coalition officers shot them nasty looks, whispering behind their hands.

Ino had a hunch as to what they were talking about, but her fears were not confirmed until she and Prisban were just two hundred meters away from Docking Bay 94, where the Defiance was waiting.

Two alien officers broke away from their group and asked if they could speak to Ino. She quickly recognized them as being Halflifers, a race of Toxoid people who were just barely compatible with environments that supported Human life. The Halflifers could only be outside of their environmental chambers for a few hours before they would have to re-board the nearest Toxoid vessel for their own safety.

“A moment, please, Ensign Esperanta.” One of the Halflifers said. He was a Lieutenant Commander, judging by the insignia on his shoulder. “I just wanted to talk to you about the Betria.”

Ino felt her stomach drop.

“I wanted to let you know that you have supporters aside from the Humans.” The Halflifer said. “There are hundreds of us who saw what happened, and we know Admiral Garnett is spouting nonsense. You have friends among the Toxoids and Lithoids and Plantoids. Wouldn’t be much of a Coalition otherwise.”

Ino thanked the Toxoid for his kind words and turned to leave, but he called her back and whispered into her ear:

“One more thing… we heard someone tried to couple with you against your will. Do not be afraid to report such an assault to my people. We have ways of dealing with such criminals, and we will not show mercy on those who would defile our friends and allies.”

…

Ino was in a much better mood when she arrived aboard the Defiance. She knew the vessel would soon be departing the Starbase to rejoin the ongoing war game, and she wanted to spend the remaining downtime in the galley… but she would not get the chance.

“Ensign Esperanta, report to the bridge.” Said a voice over the ship’s intercom.

Ino and Prisban changed course, going up to Deck One. As soon as they opened the door to the bridge, a storm of clapping reached their ears. Ino was blinded by camera flashes for a moment before a hand pulled her onto the bridge.

Dozens of officers and civilians were crammed onto the bridge, far more than the little space could hold. Ino could see news cameras, soldiers and reporters. Then, all of a sudden, Admiral Ruel had grabbed Ino by the shoulder and steered her forward.

“Sorry to spring this on you.” He whispered. “But the powers that be insisted this be done quickly. We had no choice but to surprise you.”

“Surprise me with what?” Ino started to ask.

The Admiral told Ino stand between two members of an honor guard. On Ino’s left, a soldier carried the flag of her home country, Argentina. It was folded up in a respectful triangle and Ino could see a shiny object placed atop it.

Ino realized she had walked into an impromptu ceremony, one that had been planned out in a very hasty manner. She could tell the ceremony was rushed because Admiral Ruel was visibly nervous; he stumbled over his lines.

“Attention, attention to orders!” Ruel called the room to quiet. “Today we are gathered to honor the exemplary service of Ensign Ino Esperanta of the United Nations Military during the GALEX Exercise. First, we have a message from Esperanta’s hometown, the southernmost city on Earth!”

A hush fell over the room as two holograms appeared in the center of the bridge, just in front of the Captain’s chair. Ino bit her lip to hide her sudden feeling of intense rage. Two-dimensional recreations of her parents now stood across from her on the bridge. Rajano and his wife, Glorinda, were dressed in the formal attire they normally wore for political functions, complete with the green-and-white ribbon of the Esperantist Movement tied around their wrists. Glorinda had done up her hair with many golden curls, just the way Venka liked to do.

“On behalf of the people of Ushuaia, we present to our esteemed daughter, this medallion of achievement.” Rajano said in Spainish. Glorinda repeated the message in Esperanto and then English.

At the same time, the UN Honor guard presented Ino with the folded Argentine flag and the gold medallion resting on top of it. The heads side of the medallion depicted the official insignia of Tierra del Fuego: four penguins standing on a sunlit shore while red flames and the blue outline of a bird surrounded the scene. The tails side contained the city motto of Ushuaia: Fin del mundo, principio de todo.

Ino breathed a sigh of relief. The hologram of her parents had vanished as soon as she took the Ushuaia medallion. Admiral Ruel took a small green box from an assistant. Ino noticed that several news reporters and TV camera crews had tried to take a step closer to her, but were being pushed back by MP’s. Prisban was offering to help the MP’s. Admiral Ruel opened the box and withdrew a silver medal attached to a blue and gold ribbon. He pinned the medal to Ino’s chest while reciting the following words:

“By order of the UN Parliament, Ensign Esperanta is decorated with the Interstellar Service Cross for meritorious action during the GALEX exercise that improved the overall strength and readiness of the Coalition.”

Then, Admiral Ruel took a step back, winked at Ino and whispered:

“Well done. Someone further up the chain of command has a very strong opinion about your actions against the Betria.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Ino whispered back. “Can I go hide in my quarters yet?”

“Not yet.” The Admiral said. He pulled his smartphone out of his pocket, checked the time, swore quietly, and then put it back. “I got the timing wrong. We’re going to stand here awkwardly for the next thirty seconds.”

He turned around and addressed the news reporters.

“One moment please… a short delay.”

Ino wondered just what part of this ceremony required such careful timing, but a moment later, she got her answer. A man’s voice suddenly blared over the intercom:

“Priority one communications request from UN Headquarters coming in on main channel.”

“Accept the request and make the connection.” Said the voice of Commander Thulani. (Ino could not see where he was)

A moment later, the hologram emitters began to work again. However, before a coherent shape could appear, the male voice spoke again:

“Ladies and gentlemen… the President of Earth.”

Ino could not help it. She gasped.

The holographic image of a European man appeared just in front of the Captain’s chair. Andrew Horner was tall and very attractive, with a bright beaming smile that enraptured anyone who saw it. He wore a European Union flag pin over his chest, right next to a slightly larger United Nations flag. Out of the corner of her eyes, Ino saw that several women were swooning. For the shortest moment, Ino felt the urge to do the same, but she resisted it. Ino had a type and President Horner was close to it, but ultimately off the mark.

“Good morning.” President Horner spoke in a thick Welsh accent. “Men and women of the United Nations Military, or I suppose I should call you ‘Red Fleet…’ I want you to know that your government has been watching you closely these past few days. We are proud of you. You have strengthened the Coalition and presented the best view of Earth to the entire Galaxy. Continue your exemplary service. Now, there’s someone I should speak to directly.”

President Horner turned to face Ino.

“No one likes being told about their weaknesses, Esperanta.” The President said. “Much less having their weaknesses laid bare for others to see. But your actions have allowed the Coalition to acknowledge and eliminate a weakness that could have been used against us. You chose the hard right over the easy wrong. Keep making those hard choices and persevere through the pain, Esperanta. There’s always a reward at the end of the Crucible for people like you. Now then…”

President Horner raised his right hand, palm facing up. A three-dimensional image appeared in his hand. It was a military rank insignia, and underneath it were the letters LTJG.

Ino gasped. She was going to be promoted by the President himself!

“Repeat after me.” The President said.

Ino puffed out her chest, showing off her rapidly building sense of pride as she recited the oath of the UN military:

“I solemnly swear,

To devote my life and ability,

In defense of the United Nations of Earth,

To defend the Constitution of Man,

And to further the universal rights of all sentient life,

From the depths of the Pacific,

To the edge of the Galaxy,

For as long as I shall live.”​

The President brought his hand up and saluted Ino.

“By my authority as President of the United Nations of Earth, Ensign Ino Esperanta is promoted in the UN Navy to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Congratulations.”

…

The GALEX war game was over before Ino knew just how fast the time flew by. Two weeks gone in a whirlwind of mock battles. The mood and morale aboard the Frigate Defiance could not be higher. Victories came quickly to her crew, defeats were short-lived, and when the time came for the exercise to end, every member of the crew remained at spacedock to send off their ship in style.

Two space tugs came to retrieve the decommissioned Defiance and take her away to the scrapyard. When the frigate started to strain against the tow cables, Ino, Prisban, and Commander Thulani cheered loudly, calling on Defiance to resist its imminent doom just a little longer. Eventually, the Defiance was pulled out of spacedock and into the darkness of space.

“She sure was a good ship.” Ino said, her hand on Prisban’s shoulder.

“Farewell Defiance.” Commander Thulani said. “I hope the shipbreakers have a really hard time pulling you apart. Give’em hell.”

A beeping sound caught Ino’s attention. Prisban slipped a hand into his pocket and retrieved his smartphone.

“I’ve got my transfer orders!” Prisban said, looking at the screen. “Junior Tactical Officer on the UNS Alamgir. It’s a missile frigate patrolling near the Tiyana Vek Wormhole.”

“That’s excellent!” Ino said. “I’ll get to see you as I pass by.”

“Pass by?” Prisban repeated. “Where are you going?”

Ino unlocked her smartphone and said:

“The President was right. Good things come to those who make hard choices. I got the ship assignment I wanted!”

The message on Ino’s phone was from a secure account that belonged to Admiral Ruel. It said:



Ino Esperanta, (Lieutenant Junior Grade, UNN)

You are ordered to duty aboard the UNS Marathon, an Azrael Improved-class Battleship (Carrier/Command Ship Configuration) assigned to the Phoenix Fleet.

You will report to Chief Tactical Officer LCDR Arshad al-Kazi at Sirius Starbase no later than May 2, 2390.

Signed;

James Ruel

Commanding Officer, UNAF Officer Training Program



Prisban gave Ino a wide smile.

“Congratulations!” He said. “Best of luck to you. I really mean it. Maybe we’ll see each other again someday?”

“I hope so.” Ino replied. “You heard all about me and I never got to ask about your friends.”

“Oh, the Galaxy’s full of wonders.” Prisban said. “Who knows? Maybe we will meet up again. You seem like the sort of person my friends would like.”

SOTA BENINATO​

---

Sota Beninato seen wearing the custom-built exoskeleton he used throughout the Forgotten War.

​

Sota Beninato asked the bartender for another drink. He had arrived at Tiyana Vek Starbase for his new duty assignment three days early. This was no accident but by design. He wanted some time to study the nearby Wormhole, to make sure his custom technology would not be damaged going through it.

Now that he was here, though, Sota felt slightly foolish for worrying so much. His homemade exoskeleton would be fine, and the microtech implants in his muscles and brain were made of materials that would not be affected by the wormhole.

Sota killed the spare time by drinking and watching the big television in the bar. There were plenty of news stories to keep up with. Fiona Washington, the Prime Minister of Earth, was expected to resign this week after a long and drawn-out scandal. President Horner was already arranging for her replacement. The Desstican Astral Fellowship was accusing Earth and a distant planet called Cevasia of giving aid and comfort to escaped slaves. Lately however, he had taken to watching the Military Times network. A curious story had caught his attention.

“Well I’ll be, that’s my old ship.” Sota mused.

Sota had done a tour of duty aboard the Defiance near the beginning of his military career. To see the old Frigate in the headlines made him feel good.

“All of my upgrades to the drive and cloaking sail must have held up.” Sota told himself.

Then he saw video of Ino Esperanta and learned about the role she played in the GALEX Incident.

“Huh.” Sota muttered. “She’s kinda cute, and smart enough to outplay a Zelenskyy Battleship? A real catch.”

Sota shook his head and downed another beer, reluctantly admitting that he thought highly of Ino Esperanta. She had done incredible things with his old ship. If Sota ever met Ino, he would make sure to buy her a beer.

ELODIE OF LIECHTENSTEIN​

---

Princess Elodie of Liechtenstein, seen during a lull in her combatives training. Elodie would be one of only a few Space Marines to see combat in both the Axpentl Border War and the Forgotten War.

Elodie stood in the back of the barracks as her fellow space marines watched the tiny television affixed to the wall above her bunk.

“UN Officials have expressed outrage at the discovery of a Desstican spy ship prowling the GALEX war games.” The anchor was saying.

Elodie scoffed. The other space marines, five total, were members of her squad. Elodie was the smallest and lightest of the group, but she was the leader, and for good reason.

“Necroid cowards.” Raval said. He was a large Nepalese man whose face was scrunched in a permanent scowl.

“There’s no way this goes anywhere but war.” Elodie commented.

“I always knew the rotting corpses would shoot first.” Grumbled Durand. She was a French woman, much larger than Elodie. Durand turned to one of her squaddies and punched him in the arm. “Hey, Yuhan! You grew up in Desstican territory. You should have said something, border brat.”

The marine called Yuhan put up his fists and made a threatening move toward Durand.

“What did you call me!?” He seethed.

Elodie raised her voice and somehow, despite her tiny size, managed to overpower everyone else.

“NOT TODAY!”

Everyone fell silent and turned their eyes toward Elodie.

“I will not have you disrespecting a fellow soldier. He’s got as much Earth in his blood as the rest of us.” Elodie admonished her troops.

Durand hung her head.

“Marines!” Elodie yelled. “Who do we fight for?”

“Humanity!” The group chanted in unison.

“Who do we fight for!?” Elodie repeated.

“Humanity!”

“Everyone suit up. We need to train.” Elodie said, keeping both eyes locked on Durand. “War is coming.”

RYLAN QUIN​

---

Rylan Quin during his first (and so far only) visit to Cevasia, the Homeworld of his own species.

Rylan Quin followed his mentor through the corridors of a brand-new starship. Admiral Narrem had to slow his pace to allow Rylan to keep pace.

“I am truly sorry that your first visit to the Homeworld is under such austere conditions.” Admiral Narrem said.

“I do not blame you.” Rylan said. “It is a time of crisis. We must all do our duty.”

“It is your strong sense of duty that gives me confidence.” Admiral Narrem told Rylan. “There is no other Captain in our navy I would trust with this mission.”

They arrived at the bridge. Admiral Narrem stepped through the doorway first and called for the attention of the bridge crew.

“By my authority as commander of the Home Defense Fleet,” Narreem said. “I hereby name Captain Quin the new commanding officers of the Cruiser Adimash. Computer, activate Echelon Protocol!”

As Rylan stepped onto the bridge, a blue spotlight illuminated him.

“Acknowledged.” A computerized voice said. “Change of command recognized. Command authority unlocked for Captain Rylan Quin. Welcome aboard the Adimash, sir.”

Rylan looked around the bridge. He spoke a few reassuring words to the crew, and then asked the Admiral to speak with him in the Captain’s ready room.

…

“They look a little young.” Rylan said, referring to the bridge crew. “I think I have more ritual implants than all of them combined.”

Rylan and Narrem looked at one another for a moment, each taking stock of the other’s wide array of cybernetic implants.

“It is like you said. This is a crisis.” Admiral Narrem said. “Ritual and personal satisfaction gives way to duty in these times.”

“Except for those times when personal satisfaction and duty align?” Rylan said.

“I love my job, I won’t pretend otherwise.” The Admiral smiled. “And you, as a starship captain now, have a much greater ability to lobby for the creation of an alliance between our people and the Human-led Coalition. I know you do nothing else in your downtime.”

“I look forward to using that ‘greater’ ability.” Rylan replied.

“Of that, I have no doubt.” The Admiral said. “Though I beg you to remember: your mission supersedes any of your other goals, including your lofty dreams of alliance.”

DELEGATE and ASTROCREATOR AZARYN​

---

The android ambassador known as Delegate (Left) and the Legendary Paragon Azaryn (Right)

Delegate held perfectly still while Azaryn moved around her laboratory with the speed of a hurricane. He turned his head this way and that as the plantoid woman busied herself about her work.

“Oh, my dear guest. I feel as though I am ignoring you. You must think me a terrible host.” Azaryn commented as she carried a tray of seeds to a nearby microscope.

“On the contrary.” Delegate said. “Your work is important, and I did promise to wait until you were in a better position to have a substantial conversation.”

“Well, I fear you and I may both have to wait longer.” Azaryn said. “They say this planet could come under Desstican invasion any day now… and I am so close to a breakthrough!”

“I am also cognizant of a time limit.” Delegate said. “The political crisis on Earth has reached a tipping point. The resignation of Prime Minister Washington is imminent, and President Horner is expected to appoint a Prime Minister who is even more hostile to unshackled Synthetic lifeforms. My people are in danger… and you have the ability to save them.”

“Again I must correct you, little Android.” Azaryn huffed and puffed, lifting a container of liquid onto a shelf. “The ability you refer to is untested, an unknown quantity. We don’t know if I can do what you ask.”

“Empirical data suggests that is false. You do have the ability to terraform barren planets into life-sustaining worlds. You simply lack the means and the support network required.”

Azaryn paused in her work.

“Unfortunately, my metal friend… your people are a step away from becoming the next generation of stateless refugees in the Galaxy. You don’t have a way to provide the means and support network you speak of.”

“That does not erase our need.” Delegate said. “However, I have been authorized to make compromises and deals to avoid impasse. I simply require you to engage in negotiations instead of avoiding direct confrontation with me.”

Azaryn stopped her feverish movement and faced Delegate. The android was sitting on a stool, looking rather childlike.

“Nothing gets past you, does it?” Azaryn asked, then spoke as Delegate opened his mouth. “Don’t answer that, it’s rhetorical. I constantly underestimate you Synths. Alright, fine. I am delaying, putting you off, procrastinating, all of those other words you said last night. It’s just…”

Azaryn looked out the window. She could see that efforts to evacuate the Cevanti capital city were accelerating at an alarming pace.

“I fear we will witness a great many changes around the Galaxy before I get the chance to test my theories…”

ARAJ ZILFALLON​

---

Prince Araj of the Zilfallon Dynasty, seen here with the nightmarish aura Ino perceived around him during the attempted assault.

The holographic likeness of the Desstican ruler towered over the head of Araj Zilfallon, who lay prostrate on the floor, his forehead and horns touching the cold metal.

“Oh-my-father-and-delight-of-my-eyes.” Araj spoke in a sulky tone that suggested he did not mean what he said: “May you live forever, but you have destroyed me! If you had not delayed in your response, I might have spirited the savage girl away and onto my ship before I was forced to flee from the primitive outpost.”

Nivella Aramachus, ruler of the Desstican Astral Fellowship, peered down at his son. The hologram had rendered the Nivella as being nearly sixty feet in height, so that Araj appeared as but a lump in the ground before his toe.

“You have forgotten, my son, that when my reply came, I forbade you from abducting the primitive girl. My armies and fleets, great though they be, are not in an advantageous position against the Humans at this time, and we would have suffered, by your deeds, a great many defeats before the final victory.”

Araj could not contain his impatience or contempt.

“But I want her!” Araj cried out, daring to take his eyes off the floor and look at his father’s face. “I must have her. I shall die if I do not have her. I must have the savage girl!”

“And again I forbid it.” The Nivella replied. “My son, you have taken a majority of the Humans found in our territory for your experiments with the Chamber of Elevation. Do they not satisfy you?”

“Not anymore.” Araj seethed. “Those primitives are colonists, unremarkable in comparison to what I saw in Tau Ceti. They are uncivilized… but the girl from Tau Ceti… she was both beauty and beast. The very contradiction blinded my senses to all the universe but your own splendid words and intentions. It was… It was the Will of the Universe. Destiny itself carried me on the solar winds to Tau Ceti.”

The Nivella took a deep breath.

“My son, I have no doubt that you have fulfilled the will of the Universe by encountering this primitive, and I do not doubt that you have felt the inexorable pull of Destiny.”

Araj looked up hopefully.

“Listen to my will, son, for I find that it will align with your own.” The Nivella said. “My invincible forces will be ready for war against the Humans and their Coalition soon. When that time comes, this primitive you call the savage girl will fight. If the Universe truly wills you to have her, then you will find her on the field of battle. Capture the savage and bring her to the Homeworld. Send her into the Chamber of Elevation. Once she has become one of us… I will give her to you to do with as you see fit… as a reward for serving me in war. Do you understand?”

“As clearly as I understand the will of the Divine.” Araj said. “Your will be done, father. May you live forever.”

---

This concludes the story of The GALEX Incident.


The story of Ino Esperanta will continue in

​

It is a period of interstellar war. Under the leadership of Humankind, a multispecies Coalition has inflicted catastrophic defeat upon the evil ASTRAL FELLOWSHIP.

Determined to press home the final victory, the Command Ship MARATHON leads a Coalition fleet in hot pursuit of the retreating Fellowship. The enemy Homeworld is vulnerable.

Aboard the Marathon, a young Tactical Officer named INO ESPERANTA must rise to the occasion when the mantle of leadership is suddenly thrust upon her…​

​

<=== Previous (Part Six)

Next (Unsung Paragons of the Forgotten War) ===>​

 

[CBR JGWRR]

Good to see her parents were limited in the damage they could do so far.

And... Eww. Forcibly mutated than handed off as a sex toy. That would be extremely bad for Ino.

 

[Macavity116]

Good to see her parents were limited in the damage they could do so far.

We got to meet every member of Ino's family save for Venka. Although one encounter with Ino's sister should be more than enough for readers to see why Ino keeps her family at more than arm's length.

And... Eww. Forcibly mutated then handed off as a sex toy. That would be extremely bad for Ino.

Insanely bad. Our heroes are fighting an empire of self-aggrandizing slavers who use religion to justify their atrocities, plus a selfish manchild of a foe who can't see farther than his own hedonistic desires. It seems appropriate that our new heroine would faces the real possibility of enslavement should her enemies triumph in the main story.

 

[Von Acturus]

There’s always a reward at the end of the Crucible for people like you.

Ah but the President doesn't know his creator. The crucible will be hard and long, and the reward anything but guaranteed.

“I solemnly swear,

To devote my life and ability,

In defense of the United Nations of Earth,

To defend the Constitution of Man,

And to further the universal rights of all sentient life,

From the depths of the Pacific,

To the edge of the Galaxy,

For as long as I shall live.”​

I always loved this oath of allegiance. Has a very beautiful universal quality.

big television

TV and smartphones, this world has a familiar feel despite the psionics and moon dwarfing battleships.

“But I want her!” Araj cried out,

I think Araj may well be your most detestable villain. That mix of dangerously powerful, total sociopathy and child like entitlement makes him utterly repugnant.

My son, you have taken a majority of the Humans found in our territory for your experiments with the Chamber of Elevation.

Were those humans travellers? Conquered colonists? Abductees? And why didn't the Coalition take armed measures to free them?

 

[CBR JGWRR]

We got to meet every member of Ino's family save for Venka. Although one encounter with Ino's sister should be more than enough for readers to see why Ino keeps her family at more than arm's length.

Absolutely understandable...

Insanely bad. Our heroes are fighting an empire of self-aggrandizing slavers who use religion to justify their atrocities, plus a selfish manchild of a foe who can't see farther than his own hedonistic desires. It seems appropriate that our new heroine would faces the real possibility of enslavement should her enemies triumph in the main story.

Yeah...

He's worse than Gaius.

 

[Macavity116]

I always loved this oath of allegiance. Has a very beautiful universal quality.

The Stellaris Apocalypse trailer lives rent-free in my head. The whole sequence is a masterwork of Sci-Fi art.

TV and smartphones, this world has a familiar feel despite the psionics and moon dwarfing battleships.

I wanted to avoid using holograms for everything, and familiar terms from our modern day helps the Human-dominated locales in this story feel more Human.

I think Araj may well be your most detestable villain. That mix of dangerously powerful, total sociopathy and child like entitlement makes him utterly repugnant.

Obviously, Araj will be getting some page-time with Ino in the main story, but I am still hoping to get some scenes where he interacts with the other characters. I especially want Araj to have a moment with Living MacGuffin Azaryn and Tritagonist Elodie.

Were those humans travellers? Conquered colonists? Abductees? And why didn't the Coalition take armed measures to free them?

Abducted colonists. It'll be brought up in the main story, but the border between the Coalition and Astral Fellowship is very poorly demarcated and frequently disputed. The Fellowship constantly "detains" Human colonists, accusing them of settling planets in Desstican territory. (in reality, Desstican warships and colonists have quietly moved the border "China-style" until Human colonists suddenly wake up one morning to find they are no longer in Coalition space)

He's worse than Gaius.

I remember reading that chapter where Naomi ran across Gaius. (and ran him through) Life 2.0 certainly gave me an idea or two for how our new trio of protagonists will have to deal with Araj once the threat arises.

Ino might prioritize finding a way to stop his telepathic attacks through cybernetic implants.

Sota would probably go all Papa Wolf and blow up Araj's homeworld before wondering if he'd gone too far.

Elodie would most likely try to fistfight Araj and get killed for it.

 

[Nikolai]

Finally, I got the time to get to the end! And what a story this was. Read the last half in one sitting. Now onto the next story.

 

[Macavity116]

Finally, I got the time to get to the end! And what a story this was. Read the last half in one sitting. Now onto the next story.

Thanks for reading, and glad to hear you enjoyed!

 

[Chac1]

Apologies that it has taken me so long to get to this prequel. Glad I was able to use the YouTube/audio versions.

You have created another interesting universe for us to explore. Your imagination catalyzed by Stellaris certainly creates quite the number of interesting characters. When I have time I will definitely jump into what follows. Interesting work.

Good luck to you in this writing quest and wherever you may be serving.

 

[Macavity116]

Apologies that it has taken me so long to get to this prequel. Glad I was able to use the YouTube/audio versions.

No worries. It's not like these stories are going anywhere. Glad the audiobooks are still helping people out. That's why they're here.

You have created another interesting universe for us to explore. Your imagination catalyzed by Stellaris certainly creates quite the number of interesting characters. When I have time I will definitely jump into what follows. Interesting work.

Good luck to you in this writing quest and wherever you may be serving.

Glad to hear I can still weave an interesting tale! Thanks for reading, and it's good to see you again!