Chapter One

Into the Void

For as long as the people on earth could remember, no one truly thought that somehow, the world they knew was the only one where life existed. But mankind only discovered these centuries into the future, where Space travel was possible and the weapons of the future were more than just laser guns and pulse grenades. After years of trial, error, and multiple tests run with space travel, Earth finally obtained the ability to create ships that can travel faster than the speed of light. Allowing them to explore new frontiers beyond the solar system. With this though, many new changes were afoot as well. And not just with technology, but with the people. Different species of either alien or animal-like beings have been introduced to the human race. But not all were welcomed with open arms and some were discriminated against and segregated based on their species. Thus, this caused a war between the many races of each species that would've escalated into a war between different galaxies. But, after years of fighting, all these species agreed to now settle their differences with words instead of weapons. Thus, the Pangalactic Federation was created. As a means to bring order and peace throughout the universe. But not every race is too friendly towards the Federation.

[Space]

[Kappa Sector]

Kronos, an organization that rivals that of the Pangalactic Federation, although they are at peace with the PF due to a peace treaty. Kronos is in control of the Kappa Sector, with its central government located on the fourth planet in the Omphalos System. Kronos has extremely advanced technology, often matching or exceeding that of the federation in some areas. One of its factions, the one that used to be led by General Alma, has made groundbreaking advances in time-space symbometrics as a means to combat the federation or any foe that threatened them or the system they live in.

"Solar Star to command, do you copy?" The distorted voice on the communications console tried to spell out. Spatial Travel sometimes could hamper communications and also affect the AI's receiving the messages if the owner couldn't respond. However, the one who was calling knew the pilot of the Solar Star well and was getting irritated with waiting. "Solar Star… Nelsha, I know you're faking the whole falling asleep tactic! Get your ass in here, this is serious!"

"Ugh! Dammit, What! What the hell do you want!?" Nelsha said as she pressed the communication button in her ship.

"I know you might think I'm annoying you, but this is urgent." the voice over the intercom replied. "There's-."

"That's what you said last time, and there was nothing urgent to be worried about!"

"This time it's different," her commanding officer informed her. "There's a cosmic anomaly by your sector. We're unsure how it happened or what it's doing, but we're asking for all ships to stay out of the region until it's deemed safe to pass through."

"Well, that's a surprise. Command gives us a warning ahead of time before the danger happens." Nelsha said sarcastically. "What's the big deal about this anomaly anyway?"

"We've lost many courier ships before who thought that traveling through anomalies could be a shortcut to get to their destination. Some others thought as far as they were going to become Espers if they went through as a right of passage."

"Figures someone would try to do that. I mean really, don't they know that it will end up killing them or worse causing permanent damage to their nervous system?"

"Just shows how far people would go to achieve the impossible. Anyways, get yourself to a place to dock. The Kronos Ravana is the closest one here. I'll let them know you are on your way."

"Dammit, and I was hoping to stop by a planet to get some crafting materials for the ship." The Fellpool sighed as she took her ship off of autopilot. "Fine, I'll head over there once I input the location to the Kronos Ravana."

"Good. Stay safe, Nelsha." The commander told her before ending the call, allowing the pilot to input the coordinates of the space carrier into her ship's Navigation unit.

"Seriously, I don't see why I have to head back so soon. I mean it's not like I'll end up getting into trouble or something."

"If I may speak," A new voice on the ship, which was Nelsha's AI named Vi. "The last time you ignored protocol, you had your ship's license taken away and you sent a formal complaint titled "nuts to the law" in slang terms."

"Hey, I had a good reason for that one."

"Taking the commander's ship out on a joy flight is not a suitable reason."

"Not my fault the guy left the keys to the ship inside. I mean, who does that?" The AI sighed, looking at the pilot as she groaned a little.

"Look, let's just do what the commander says. He's already angry and you don't want it to get worse."

"Fine, we'll follow his orders for once and head on over there," Nelsha growled as she turned her ship around and began to make her way over to her destination. "Vi, how long have we been with the Kronos Organization?"

"Simple or statistical terms?"

"Don't be a smartass, just tell me."

"About two years, going on three." The AI replied. "Why?"

"And out of those two years, have we ever encountered anything interesting?"

"Well… Not exactly. Given your track record, you will only get the better assignments once you show some responsibility-."

"Hey, I have shown some responsibility. Remember that time I helped out those folks on planet alpha dova a few weeks ago?"

"Yes…and that was only one out of a handful of times…I'm sorry for sounding rude, but can you get straight to the point?"

"Look, if they want me to take things seriously, then they could at least give me something more important than a scouting mission for possible ally planets or delivery stuff." Nelsha continued for a few moments, not exactly paying attention to where she was flying until Vi redirected her attention back to the controls. "Let's just head over to the Kronos Ravana and-."

"Nelsha, we have a problem."

"What problem? Is it the cooling system again? Because I already undid the wiring so that the cold air isn't on when the heat is on this time."

"No, another problem…" Vi spoke up.

"What? Is it the transmission?"

"No, that," Vi spoke up before the two of them heard something crash into the back of the ship. "We're being attacked by Space Pirates."

"Seriously? What are space pirates doing in Kronos territory?"

"They're rogues from the looks of it. They don't align themselves with a certain captain, but instead go wherever the possibility of looting is...and one just flipped you off."

"Brilliant deduction sherlock. Ready the EMP pulse gun along with the photon blasters." Nelsha said as she pushed on the gas peddled to her ship. "Keep the shields up to max, but lower them if the attacks don't do that much damage."

"Affirmative," Vi replied before an incoming transmission came in.

"Hey buds, this little bitch cut us off and I don't like her attitude. Let's tear that ship to scrap!"

"Good luck with that buddy. Vi, how's the EMP pulse gun doing?" Nelsha asked as she avoided a photon blast from the space pirate's ship.

"Guns online...Warning, unknown energy flux. Source…possibly the cosmic anomaly that the commander mentioned." The AI said before hearing something explode. "Left Pulse gun, disabled."

"Dammit, as if I needed more pressure on me today. Focus on charging the pulse gun and repairing the damaged gun."

"Uhh…It might go without saying that when I mean disabled…" Vi said, showing an image of the weapon only half intact. "I mean blown to bits…I suggest possibly creating a diversion to disable their ships and use what fuel we have to escape?"

"Do we have anything to distract them to make our getaway?"

"We have an Arc Mine Cluster disguised as a crate. Leftover from one of our previous missions out in the Stratos Sector." The Artificial intelligence filled her in as they dodged a few more blasts. "Should I set it to charge?"

"Please do that. Because right now this ship is starting to become hard to steer."

"Working on it…Releasing Arc Mine now."

"This better work," Nelsha said as she pressed a button, releasing the Arc Mine at the space pirates. It soon detonated, giving her the chance to speed out of there, leaving them in the dust while doing so.

"Targets eliminated," Vi replied, after a little while of running away from the blast zone. "However…I don't think we can exactly rest just yet."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a gravity influx from that anomaly that's a few kilometers out. It's pulling us in."

"Well pull us out of its gravitational pull then," Nelsha said as she tried to move the ship out of the way of the gravitational pull.

"I can't. The gravitational force is too strong, and warping would cause this ship to be torn apart...May I also add that it's been an honor serving you, Ms. Nelsha? You know since we're probably going to die?"

"We're not going to die, Vi. I won't give up that easily." Nelsha said as she aimed towards the anomaly. "If we can't pull away, then we'll have to go through it."

"Normally I would judge your decision. But since it's the only one we got, I'm going to use a phrase you would normally say...screw it."

"Glad to see some of my personality is rubbing off on you."

"I would say otherwise." Vi groaned, "At least make sure to have your gear on you for if we do somehow crash on a planet inhabited by aliens and we can't get a hold on command. After the fight with the pirates, our communications might've taken a hit."

"Fair point," Nelsha said as she strapped herself and braced for impact as the ship flew into the cosmic anomaly.