The Galaxy Project

T-MINUS 245 YEARS

T-MINUS 245 YEARS

(ORBSyndicate, Nano Soldier 2016)

EARTH THEATRE

A certain Serrakin trader was ecstatic. With this new coalition, trade had boomed! It was a dream come true! Just a few years ago he was struggling to get by, competition between the worlds of the Hebridans was just too strict... He'd been struggling to get by.

Then the trade opened to Earth and the Tau'ri worlds, finally a good market he could sink his feet into. But the Lucians had tainted that, and it became a dangerous place to work...

But now, the Lucians were gone, and the market was open to all the nearby powers! Suddenly, hundreds of new goods were available for trade, and he, Simol, would be there to rake in profits because of it! The Reform colonies needed supplies, and the rest of the cosmos needed the special materials their Priors could generate. The Tau'ri needed more personnel, and the Equi needed more technologies. The Vulcans wanted philosophy, and the Equi wanted companions. It was just a matter of seeing who wanted what and finding who had it...

He was becoming a very rich man who got around a lot. He was able to see the Andorian government undergo the beginnings of reform: evidentially the war had gotten the people sick of their government's militaristic tendencies. He got to be there personally when the Tellarites created the interstellar court system. He got to hear a loot of philosophy when the Vulcans, Tellarites, and Equi got together. He also got to see a lot of magic used in amazing ways, and enchanted items became the most valuable items he carried.

But right now, none of that mattered. He was about to make the deal of his career.

"Do you have the product?" An Equi Unicorn asked.

"Indeed I do..." Simol grinned, placing a blueish crystal chip on the table. "One Asgard processing chip. Yours for the small price of a billion credits. Or equivalent exchange."

The Unicorn nodded, using her magic to pull out a strange magical orb. "This is one of Appletech's experimental devices,

a spell orb. Activate it by touching it with telekinesis or three thousand volts of electricity. It will cast a disguise spell, giving whoever is closest to it the appearance of whatever they want for as long as they want."

"While interesting, it doesn't seem to be as-"

"You can have ten." The Unicorn said.

Simol knew when not to ask questions. "Deal." He said, taking the ten orbs and giving the chip to her. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"Of course."

As the two prepared to leave, the unicorn's eyes widened in fear. "Oh no-"

"OH YES!" The door was smashed down, revealing a griffon standing next to a human soldier. The griffon grinned. "YOU'VE JUST BEEN BUSTED!"

The unicorn dropped her disguise instantly, turning into the Changeling she was and trying to fly away through the other door. Unfortunately, there was an Andorian right there, pointing a rather large gun at her.

The Changeling cowered. "No... no..." Her horn lit on fire, and she screamed in pain, collapsing on the ground. Then she blinked, all the soul gone from her eyes.

There were no responses form her after that.

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"That's... Barbaric!" Layton gasped.

Lyra nodded. "Chrysalis wanted no chance of her operative being questioned."

"But... removing their higher function? Who would do such a thing?"