Star Rising: Heartless

Prologue

Hello, Everyone.

This is my new series set in the far off galaxy of Cestia. 

Above you'll find a map of the galaxy. Notice that the planet where the prologue takes place (K'lech is in the top right hand corner of the galaxy).

Hope you enjoy!

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StarCycle 2,321

Prologue

Reave gazed out the window, taking in the sight of the blue sphere hanging in the darkness of space. It was bigger then he remembered. He'd heard many stories of K'strala, a planet so far in the outer border of the galactic jurisdiction that some even claimed it didn't exist. Those who did believe of its existence often regarded the jungle planet with dread and mysticism, claiming a race of half-lizard men had claimed it as their own.

Reave smiled inwardly at the gullibility of the simple planetary folk as he took another sip straight out of the bottle. Over the past twenty star cycles, he had scoured space in over a hundred missions. Never had he encountered anything that remotely resembled such a creature.

"Five minutes until touchdown!" yelled the pilot from the cockpit. The small ship shook violently. Empty tin cans and bullet shells tumbled noisily on the metal floor. A simple light dangled above his head, filling the room with a faint orange-tinted glow.

From the edge of his vision, Reave made out Tory and Lester by his side. Both rookie Alioth warriors tumbled from side to side, their weapons almost falling from their hands.

"Keep those snipers under control," ordered Reave. Inside he cursed. Why couldn't the Bastion have sent him alone? It was bad enough he was being sent on a useless mission to some long-abandoned planet. Did he really need two green soldiers, barely out of Alioth Academy, to babysit as well?

Tory, a long-faced tall girl who couldn't be a day over twenty struggled to her feet. "I'm sorry, sir. This old ship is shaking so much. I think it's going to crash."

Lester, who looked to be the same age, saw it fit to add to the ridiculous claims. "I think Tory is right." His green eyes glanced around the ship nervously. "These old Stormcaller class ships crash all the time. Father always said they would be the death of me."

"Quiet, both of you," ordered Reave. "We're entering the planet's atmosphere. That is all this is."

Despite his reassurance that everything would be fine, the rookies continued to cast nervous glances out the window. They took a seat on the bench that had long ago lost any soft padding.

"I didn't sign up for this," whimpered Lester under his breath. "This is too dangerous."

Reave gazed down at the boy, his stomach tightening in frustration. The lenses of his dark-rimmed glasses made his eyes look three times the size of a regular eye. "If you wanted to be safe, you should have taken a job at a desk over at the Bastion."

"No, n..no..." Lester whined. "My grandpa and father were both Alioths. I need to follow in their footsteps."

Tory sighed. "I didn't think we would be sent so far out into the border of the galaxy. I thought we were going to be stationed at the Bastion. Patrolling traffic, maybe catching a few looters. A far-range expedition, though? This is too much."

"Don't worry," said Reave. "The reading that the Bastion caught emanating from K'strala was probably nothing more than a raptured underground pipe. K'strala used to be a mining planet. It's been abandoned for hundreds of years, but the lines underneath are probably still intact."