Unbroken Curiosity

Chapter 8: The Aftermath

Captain Sivian Cox

The world was dying. From orbit, Cox saw the colour drain from the surface as thick dark clouds gathered, obscuring the view from above. What madness is this? He wondered. What has the power to kill and destroy so fast?

"It has been confirmed." Wroth stormed onto the bridge. Cox turned to face his Commander. Wroth looked tired. The orc was covered in blood and still had his weapon in hand. "I saw them with my own eye. The Co-Dek are down there."

"Protocol is clear in that regard," Burke said, eyeing the captain, waiting for him to say something.

Cox remained silent. I send those people down there. I killed them... They died... For what?

"Sir? What are your orders?" Burke asked.

"How many survivors?" Cox finally managed.

"Four," Wroth said.

Four. We sent 20 people down there... And only four came back. How? Why? Cox moved towards his chair. Everyone on the bridge looked at the Captain as he walked towards his seat. They are waiting for me to give the order. Am I the first to do so? How long ago did someone kill a planet? Cox took his seat. "Any hope that others made it?" He asked. Wroth shook his head. Then it must be done. "Burke is right... Protocol is clear." Cox pressed one of the many buttons on his chair and opened communications with the Combat Suite. "Aryron, are you there?"

"Yes." Came the elf's voice.

"Ready the Railgun..." Cox took in a deep breath. "And a Cleanser Missile. Burke, get me target coordinates and send them down to the Combat Suite." Cox paused while Aryron and Burke worked. Wroth took his place next to the Captain, standing with his arms crossed, observing the world beyond the glass. Cox turned to the Commander, who only made an approving nod. "Fire the Railgun."

"Firing," Aryron said.

The Railgun was of Orcish design. According to the ship's schematics, it was located on the bottom of the Curiosity's hull. Cox never saw it before. He remembered studying the Curiosity through a window while it was still in drydock at the Sancturain Shipyard. It was about the only time he saw the Curiosity from outside...

*

"It is a beautiful ship," Cox said. "Dwarven Design?"

Admiral Axel Reed smiled. "You have a keen eye, Captain."

"I am no Captain."

"No... Walk with me." Admiral Reed was one of the three admirals of the Exploration Guild and leader of the Exploration Fleet. To Cox, it was a huge honour to speak to him. Reed might not be a native of the Empire, but he was well-known across Laniakea. His ideas might seem radical, sometimes even laughable, but he had the support of the Utopian Corporate Alliance, which gave him some credence.

They walked together in silence throughout the shipyard station. It was early, and the great halls of the station were empty. Soon, these halls would be filled with people: Workers to build new ships or passengers who needed to board ships too large to land on the planet or dock with the space stations. The planet was dawning, giving Cox a great view of Sanctuary. It reminded him of his world. Peaceful and serene. "Why did you want to speak with me, Admiral?" Cox finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Captain... Mr Cox. The Guild is dying. Did you know that?" Cox shook his head. The Exploration Guild was respected and always seemed so prestigious. He found the admiral's claims hard to believe. Still, Reed continued. "The Guild was founded almost 20000 years ago by Lord Varr of Warrenheim. Thanks to him, Laniakea entered a Second Age of Discovery. During that age, we explored galaxies once thought void of any life. We entered Andromeda and the Milky Way. We found the Elves, the Dwarves, the Deros and the Illuimium, and most importantly, we found Earth. Our organisation was built on exploration and discovery, but since the war, we have only forgotten things, thanks to our fear and the greed of others." Reed paused, taking a deep breath. He seemed passionate about the topic. "Tell me, Cox, do you know what makes our ships move? Do you know what makes travel between entire galaxies possible? What keeps us connected even in an ever-expanding universe?"