Interlude: Ghosts of a Forgotten Cycle
"What in the name of the Shroud is that thing?!"
UNE Scientist Lysander Orion upon seeing the Blokkat-Vester enter the Milky Way
"When the Blokkat-Vester breached our galaxy, we thought we were prepared. We thought that, after all, we had witnessed and accomplished, after we had screamed our defiance against the ancient horrors of the universe, we would be ready. How naive we were, to believe that the universe even noticed our existence, let alone cared."
UNE President Lysara Valen in her novel "Shadows of the Blokkats: A Galaxy in Mourning"
"I have fought against the Blokkats before. They are not cruel, nor are they evil. They are simply indifferent. We are projecting our moral constraints onto them, a foolish mistake. Their actions ripple through the universe with no regard for the lives they extinguish. They are no more evil than a person crushing a bug underfoot, thoughtlessly, as if it never existed."
Kaiser Kattail's private thoughts in his journal
"Lust for power, desire for conquest, or obsession with technology. These goals are as fleeting as the species pursuing them. We have learned to disregard such baseless objectives and instead focus on the simplest and most universal requirement of all lifeforms: The accumulation of energy."
The Blokkouncil to the Grand Intergalactic Federation diplomats
December 21st, 3410
Edge of the Solar System
Cygnus Reach
Milky Way Galaxy
Cycle 10038101
As Fleet Admiral Zarael Vexaris stood sentinel on the bridge of his Planetcraft, the Astra Titanica, near the solar system of Cygnus Reach, once populated by trillions of colonists from the Kilik Cooperative, his eyes scanned the vast expanse of space, dismissing the massive gun attached to his planet-sized ship. The distant stars twinkled with eerie anticipation as if they too sensed the imminent arrival of something extraordinary... but extraordinary does not mean benign. The Dimensional Horrors, the Prethoryn Scourge, the Extradimensional Invaders, the Contingency, the Prikkiki-Ti, and others were among the myriad of horrifyingly powerful threats that had once posed a threat to the safety of the Galactic Federation and, by extension, the United Nations of Earth and the Commonwealth of Man.
Fleet Admiral Vexaris remained resolute as he faced each one, however, with his unwavering determination serving as a beacon of hope for those under his command. He knew that the fate of countless civilizations hung in the balance and that it was his duty to protect them at all costs.
His presence here had begun when Federation scientists, on the very outpost he now stood upon, detected an unusually high concentration of matter roughly a million light-years away from the edge of their galaxy. The object revealed itself to their tachyonic instruments by the significant curvature of light and space in its vicinity. Initially dismissed as a rogue microquasar, the object emitted recurring patterns of electromagnetic radiation, suggesting the rapid rotation of a massive and active celestial body. However, it's faster-than-light movement and intense spacetime curvature precluded accurate velocity measurements. Politicians ignored the object, deeming it irrelevant, since it appeared to be on a trajectory outside their local group.
They would quickly be proven wrong.
The object suddenly halted in intergalactic space within less than a second. It remained still for hours, causing scientists to sweat with anxiety, realizing this object was unnatural. Then, it instantaneously accelerated back to its original speed. The scientists, flabbergasted by this blatant defiance of known physics, realized with horror that the object was now heading directly toward their galaxy at a velocity of 100,000 light years per second.
They rang the alarm, notifying the Galactic Council of a possible Crisis. The procedures for a Crisis Event were immediately implemented, and the Federation began mobilizing for war.
Some protested, ignorantly believing the object to be a rogue quasar or a natural FTL drive made from a black hole and a white hole pair leading into one another. However, the Galactic Council, hardened by years of war against Crisis Events, chose to prepare for the visitor's arrival within the decade, building Planetcrafts and even a few Systemcrafts and fortifying the Gigastructure Shipyards and Forges.
News spread like wildfire across interstellar networks, sparking both curiosity and fear among the populace. Every empire scrambled to prepare for the arrival of this enigmatic entity, unsure of its intentions but bracing for the worst. Xenonion News, one of the galaxy's primary sources of information, warned everyone, from backwater planets to the core worlds of vast interstellar empires, of the impending incursion.
Scientists toiled tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of this cosmic aberration, analyzing its trajectory and behavior in a desperate attempt to discern its origins and purpose. Yet, with each revelation, the sense of foreboding only deepened, especially as psionic precogs began blacking out, their only words being "harvesters" and "blocks."
When the object was three hundred thousand light years away from the galaxy, scientists predicted it would create a subspace recoil obliterating the entire solar system it arrived in, star and planetary bodies included. The Kilik had to be evacuated from Cygnus Reach swiftly; absolutely no time could be wasted with a threat of this magnitude looming.
And yes, Fleet Admiral Vexaris believed this object was likely the vanguard for an invasion by a highly advanced civilization. Its disregard for the effects of its arrival indicated apathy toward the survival of the system's inhabitants, making diplomacy unlikely.
Some claimed that Vexaris, leading a fleet of five Planetcraft, three Attack Moons, and five thousand supporting ships, had nothing to fear. They believed the forces of the Galactic Federation would crush the incoming threat and secure peace and prosperity for centuries to come.
Yet, as he awaited the arrival of this cosmic colossus, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were but ants scurrying beneath the gaze of a god. The object's defiance of celestial motion suggested an intelligence far beyond any known in the galaxy. In the face of such cosmic enormity, he felt like a mere speck adrift in the vast expanse of space.
As Fleet Admiral Zarael Vexaris watched over the silent void, the long-range scanner's sudden blip caught his attention. His heart quickened, a mix of apprehension and grim resolve tightening his chest. He knew that whatever lay beyond the reaches of known space; he had to face it head-on. The survival of the galaxy depended on his unwavering vigilance and the courage of those who stood beside him.
"Sir, the object is 1x10^15th light-years away!" the sensor officer suddenly announced, his voice cutting through the tense silence.
Vexaris grimaced, his angular face tightening as the scar that traced a jagged path down his left cheek pulled taut. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, darkened with the weight of his responsibility. "Are the blast doors closed?" he grunted, his voice low and gravelly, resonating with the authority of countless battles fought and won. "We don't want anyone blinded by the destruction of the solar system."
The sensor officer, a younger man with a sharp, clean-shaven face and bright blue eyes that flickered with a mix of fear and respect, nodded quickly. He straightened his posture, his uniform - sleek, dark blue with silver accents denoting his rank and position - pristine and crisp. "All blast doors have already been closed, sir. We are out of the predicted range of the initial shockwave."
Vexaris exhaled slowly, the weight of his role pressing heavily upon him. His uniform, adorned with medals and insignias, felt like a second skin, each accolade a reminder of the battles he had survived and the lives he had saved. He turned his gaze back to the viewscreen; the stars seeming to twinkle with an eerie anticipation. The Astra Titanica, a behemoth among ships, hummed with latent power, its planet-sized form bristling with weaponry capable of devastating entire fleets.
"Activate the tactical overlay," he commanded, his voice carrying the steadiness of experience. "I want real-time updates on that object's trajectory and energy signatures."
The bridge crew moved with practiced precision, fingers dancing over consoles and holographic interfaces. The air was thick with the hum of technology and the subdued tension of imminent conflict. Vexaris watched as the tactical overlay materialized on the viewscreen, a complex web of data streams and projections that illuminated the path of the incoming object.
Then, without any warning, a new star was born.
A blinding white flash erupted, capable of burning out retinas across billions of kilometers if not for protective measures. Even at such a distance, it illuminated the entire solar system like a false star. The ball of energy expanded faster than organic eyes could perceive, vaporizing entire planets and asteroids in its path.
As the intense flash gradually dimmed to a powerful white glow, it revealed an expanding shell of plasma - a nascent artificial nebula born from the annihilation of planetary bodies in a single, horrific moment of unparalleled power.
And then the enemy revealed itself.
Fleet Admiral Vexaris struggled to comprehend the sight before him. A triple ring world encircled an artificial black hole-like singularity, surrounded by several large crafts, each escorted by an array of smaller vessels of various shapes and sizes. From orbs and shuttlecocks to a sleek cylinder with a square front and engines attached to its back, the alien fleet defied conventional design.
"Sir, the object's velocity is fluctuating," reported a seasoned officer, her voice a mix of awe and trepidation. Her uniform, adorned with scars from past engagements, mirrored her deep, steady green eyes that met Vexaris's with a silent understanding of their dire situation.
Vexaris's jaw clenched with determination, his steely eyes narrowing. "Prepare all defensive systems," he commanded. "We don't know what these things are, but we will meet them with the full might of the Astra Titanica."
As the crew sprang into action, Vexaris allowed himself a brief moment of introspection. He thought of the countless lives depending on him, the civilizations that would descend into chaos if he failed. The weight of his duty pressed upon him, yet he stood resolute, a stalwart guardian against the unknown.
"Sir, we are detecting unusual energy fluctuations from the object," the sensor officer called out, his voice cutting through Vexaris's thoughts. "It's as if it's scanning us."
Vexaris's eyes narrowed, the lines of his face hardening. "Initiate evasive maneuvers. We need to avoid confrontation until we understand what we're dealing with."
The bridge crew responded with swift efficiency, the massive ship subtly adjusting its course. Vexaris felt the slight shift beneath his feet, a testament to the colossal forces at play. His mind raced, considering the implications of an intelligence capable of scanning its defenses from such a distance.
"Prepare the Null Void Beams and charge the Quasi-Negative Mass Cannons," he ordered, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of activity. "If it comes to a fight, we will be ready."
The crew worked tirelessly, their faces set in grim determination. Vexaris could see the fear in their eyes, but also the resolve. They were all that stood between the galaxy and an unimaginable threat.
The sensor officer, eyes wide with the glow of her console, spoke again. "Fleet Admiral, the energy readings are spiking. It looks like it's preparing to engage."
Vexaris took a deep breath, his mind a steel trap of focus. "On my command, fire the Null Void Beams. Let's see if we can disrupt whatever it's planning."
The seconds stretched into eternity as the alien fleet maneuvered with otherworldly precision. The artificial singularity at its core pulsed ominously, casting long shadows across the bridge.
"Fire!"
The Astra Titanica's Null Void Beams lanced out, their entropic streams converging on the alien construct. The beams struck the outer ringworld, causing a ripple of energy to cascade across its surface. For a moment, it seemed as though they might penetrate the alien defenses.
But then, an unearthly blue glow enveloped the structure, absorbing the Null Void energy. The bridge was bathed in an eerie light as the alien fleet responded with devastating speed.
"Shields at maximum!" Vexaris barked, his voice unwavering. "All hands, brace for impact!"
The enemy's return fire came as a concentrated barrage of green beams.
Vexaris's grip tightened on his chair's armrests, his knuckles white. "Brace for impact-!"
December 21st, 3410
New York, Earth
Sol System
Milky Way Galaxy
Cycle 10038101
UNE President Lysara Valen watched in open-mouthed horror as the Planetcrafts and Attack Moons were almost instantaneously annihilated. The supporting ships scattered in a frenzy, their formations shattered, the panicked voices of their crews cutting through the chaos. The flagship, the pride of their fleet, was no more, and with it, Fleet Admiral Vexaris had perished. The gravity of the situation pressed down on her like a physical weight.
Lysara's dark hair, normally a testament to her meticulous nature, hung in disarray, a stark contrast to her usually composed demeanor. Her piercing blue eyes, now wide with shock, mirrored the apocalyptic scene unfolding on the screen before her. The room was thick with the scent of sweat and fear, the air heavy with the silent dread of those who witnessed the unimaginable.
"President, there's an incoming transmission," the communications officer's voice broke the silence, her fingers trembling as they danced nervously across her console.
Lysara turned sharply, her movements betraying the tension coiled within her. "What do you mean, there's an incoming transmission? We're almost halfway across the Milky Way."
The communications officer swallowed hard, her face pale. "Ma'am, the transmission is a powerful subspace signal to the entire galaxy."
The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Lysara's mind raced, the implications of such a message sending chills down her spine. She straightened, drawing on every ounce of her resolve. The universe had just changed, and she had to face whatever came next.
"Put it on screen."
"Yes, Ma'am."
The screen in front of the UNE Chambers turned on, revealing an entity so alien it defied immediate comprehension. A twisted mass of diagonal cubes intersected at a single point, forming a singular glowing green eye. Pulsing greenish lines ran throughout its body, casting an eerie, otherworldly light.
"Greetings, to whomever it may concern. The Blokkat-Vester and its surrounding fleets have made contact with your galaxy. We shall make ourselves clear, as approximation and mystery breed inefficiency." The entity's voice was cold and detached, yet casual, sending shivers down Lysara's spine.
"We have come to your galaxy in search of pure, raw energy: and our fleets shall harvest every last bit of matter, vacuum fluctuations, and background radiation from it. If this inconveniences you, your civilization may leave the galaxy and we will not pursue you. Do not attempt to slow us down, as this will only accelerate your demise. Goodbye."
The transmission ended abruptly, leaving Lysara and every other UNE politician in the room to stare at the screen in stunned silence. Her mind whirled with the implications of what she had just witnessed. The room was quiet, the weight of impending doom pressing down on everyone present.
The enormity of the threat was staggering. Lysara's hands, usually steady and controlled, trembled slightly. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she struggled to process the magnitude of the catastrophe that loomed over them. The once invincible leader now stood paralyzed, her mind blank, her body frozen. The president, who had faced countless Crises, now found herself utterly terrified and bereft of answers.
Author's Note: If anyone was wondering what the immense burst of energy the Planetcraft picked up, it was the extremely subspace transmission, not the weapons firing.