Guardian


    "Hierarch, our strike fleet is reporting near completion of objectives in the Azuka system," reported Flotilla Admiral Pentega.


    The Hierarch''s telemetry implants activated, bringing all active fleets into view. His queries were answered automatically as the vessels compiled reports on battles and intelligence collection, streaming data to the Dimus Core, allowing the hierarch and his command staff unrivalled situational awareness.


    Through the link, he beheld the unfolding battle:


    Dawn''s Defiance and Trebalias'' Might was eliminating a detachment of mining world guard fleets. A thought brought another vessel into focus: the annihilation-class vessel; Breath of Annihilation, which was engaging a moon wide artillery system, the moon''s surface was vaporized, then, another energy beam turned it into a molten husk.


    His command staff, were coordinating the unrelenting flow of information appearing on their screens as Gevra''s voice echoed over the hum, "Trulion units ready to drop, Probable hostile presence detected on the planetary surface, possibly guarding a pirate cache". Veza signaled the first captain, who directed the units to descend. Heavy dropships glided through the atmosphere as the command station detached from the mothership, its thrusters burning hard to slow its descent.


    "Enemy anti-air detected. Deploying countermeasures," Gevra steered the command station to avoid incoming projectiles. A brilliant flash cutting through the darkened sky as the station teleported, its defense platforms neutralizing the enemy emplacements.


    "Enemy artillery suppressed. Optimal altitude reached. Engaging hover mode,"


    The ship carrying Veza surged past the command station, slowing as it neared the surface. Troops disembarked but were immediately met with heavy fire from an undetected bunker.


    "Gevra! destroy the enemy emplacement," Veza ordered.


    A shockwave rippled across the battlefield as the bunker exploded.


    "Captain, are your men on the objective?" Veza asked through the radio.


    The Trulion captain responded promptly, confirming his warriors were inside the facility and encountering only minimal, but coordinated resistance. Live feeds showed them countering ambushes.


    "General, exfil zone cleared," the captain reported to Veza as he finalized the activation of a temporary command post.


    The static broke as the team radioed having reached a sealed chamber, its massive metal doors embedded in the rock face.


    "Unit One reports objective reached. Chamber is being breached."


    Thermal lances cut through the doors, which groaned before collapsing inward with a thunderous crash. Lights from an armored vehicle illuminated the chamber, revealing its vast, artificial construction carved deep into the hill.


    "Inspecting cache," one warrior said, his weapon pointed down a corridor.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "There, top storage unit," another warrior pointed out.


    The team pulled an object free from its container: a circular plate humming faintly with energy.


    "Place it in the containment unit," Veza ordered.


    Suddenly, a deep rumble shook the ground. Above them, the stars dimmed and reddened as a curtain of darkness descended over the landscape.


    "Gevra, prepare all units for evacuation. Secure the cargo," Veza instructed, his voice calm despite the tension thickening in the air.


    Another tremor rolled through the earth. Veza materialized his spear as Gevra''s voice replied.


    "Trulion Guard reports contact."


    Veza''s spear ignited with death-fire, its subtle blue and lilac flames flickering steadily.


    "Communication with Trulion Guard lost. Activating sentry protocol,"


    Gevra had detected Red fire energy signatures radiating from an adjacent hill range that unit 315 was holding.


    She directed fire from an orbiting warship, projectiles descended with bright trailing cones, their impacts booming as they shattered the hill range.


    "Red Lord Scion detected. Threat..." Gevra went silent as a projectile from the dust filled broken hills ascended, the shockwave reaching Veza''s position, striking the command platform, more booms could be heard as the defense platforms were hit, another final line of red went into the night sky.


    "multiple vessels damage. Evacuating for repairs," she announced.


    As the dust cleared, a figure stepped from the flames—a towering being with immense wings, wielding a spear glowing molten with red fire.


    "Galrun," Veza said with disbelief.


    Galrun unfurled his wings, their beating creating a vortex. A shield materialized in his left hand, his radiant armor reflecting the flames surrounding him.


    "For the Hierarch! Engage the defiler!" shouted the captain (Nathaniel) beside Veza as he fired.


    Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off Galrun''s armor. The winged figure hurling his spear with devastating precision, striking the captain in the chest and driving him to his knees. Veza rushed forward, pulling the spear free, but it dissolved into red dust.


    Another beam of light struck Galrun, creating a crater where he stood. He rose unscathed.


    "Command station online, support ships engaging," Gevra said as Veza rallied his troops.


    Despite the overwhelming dread, the Trulion units pressed forward. Galrun charged from the crater, hurling his spear toward the command station. Gevra teleported the platform away barely missing the supersonic projectile.


    The spear reformed in Galrun''s hand. He then swung it at an advancing armored vehicle, sending it tumbling into the crater. Veza and the captain closed in, their weapons clashing against Galrun''s in a flurry of sparks and energy.


    The captain''s spear was caught and snapped, its shattered shaft driven into his gut, he was then slammed into ground. Veza avoided Galrun''s bladed wings, countering with a precise thrust that wounded Galrun''s shoulder. Yet the injury seemed to fuel the winged warrior''s fury.


    Galrun backhanded Veza with immense force, sending him hurtling into his advancing units. Veza rose quickly, deflecting another strike with his shield before landing a glancing blow on Galrun''s side. But the shield was ripped from Veza''s grasp, and the winged warrior hurled him aside like a broken doll.


    Galrun loomed over the fallen Veza, his spear raised for the killing blow.


    A heavy tank fired, forcing Galrun to shield himself with his wings. Trulion warriors rushed to defend their leader, but Galrun cut through them mercilessly. One soldier was lifted by the neck and slammed onto Galrun''s knee, his back snapping with a sickening crack.


    Bleeding and battered, Veza threw his spear to the ground.


    "Galrun!" he shouted, kneeling.


    The winged figure paused, his menacing gaze fixed on Veza.


    "We surrender, great Guardian!" Veza declared.


    Galrun stood silently, then spoke a single, booming word:


    "Leave."