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Crystal Guardian

Arc 3: Perversion of the Light

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Chapter 24: The Pain of Loss

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On 11-12-2022 the United States of America began construction of the Moon base as a first stage of the mission to Mars. The Metallic Crystals from Ralefa Holdings allowed the USA to Develop advanced computational capabilities and new plasma weapons based on HOD designs. The HOD gave the ATO nations access to military technology comparable to that supplied by ArmsCorp.

It was this new technology that led to the kind of systems that gave NASA the prospect of a successful mission to Mars. The Metallic Crystals based computers is small enough to be fitted to mechanisms required for automated digging on the surface of the Moon. The plan was to build a the base on the Moon by using 30 small 20 kilogram mobile robots controlled and powered by a central unit that would itself receive energy from the sun.

The small 20 kilogram mobile robots and the central unit used Crystal Valley Industries Crystal Based Batteries to store energy. The mobile robots would then dig a 2.2 meter diameter tunnel at 20 degrees to the ground until reaching a depth of 15 meters. The mobile robots would then construct the network of underground tunnels that would form the main facility. The mobile robots were built from the strongest Alloys available to NASA, and as the digging got underway the number of the mobile robots on the Moon increased to 150.

The Crystalorb Leadership was observing the American developments with great interest, and with particular interest in the applications of the new robotics technology. The Crystalorb Research Division was looking for ways to adapt any new developments to their own robotics technology, and Crystal Valley Industries seabed mining operations were using advanced Crystal based robots to mine the seabed.

The Intrepid laid a third Egg, and as the egg was being fed Spirit Stone to finalize its development the Council of Elders chose to name the new ship Jalen after Lord Jalen who had recently died from cancer. For Hodians, Crystalans and Hybrids cancer was the largest killer. These three groups were virtually invulnerable to infections, common injuries, bullets and even most human diseases, but cancer had become a death sentence for them.

The cancerous cell were turning their regenerative capabilities against them, and as the cancer spread it became increasingly uncontrollable. Surgery became the only viable treatment for cancer in Hodians, Crystalans and Hybrids, but in the case of brain, blood and bone cancer surgical treatment had very limited effectiveness. When Tuo was diagnosed with a brain tumour the writing was on the wall, and she new that her time was running out. Tuo and Naole went to the Crystalorb Medical Centre for Tuo's treatment.

The doctors at the Crystalorb Medical Centre operated on Tuo and removed all the cancer they could find, and because of Tuo's regenerative abilities her brain recovered from the damage to her brain. For a while it seemed like the storm had passed, they hoped for the best, but it was not meant to be, and fate would once again interfere with their chosen path; their chosen destiny.

As Tuo's brain cells regenerated the cancer cells also regenerated, and as the cancer cells returned they were more aggressive.

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Then the doctors at the Crystalorb Medical Centre informed Tuo and Nalen of the fateful news.

Dr Kanu 〘MD〙 : " I'm afraid the prognosis is not good."

Tuo : " How long do I have?"

Dr Kanu 〘MD〙 : " We can't be certain, but 6 to 12 months."

Naole : " No!"

Dr Kanu 〘MD〙 : " The cancer has rapidly spread to nearly all parts of the brain, and we are now seeing hundreds of tiny tumours that are actively growing."

Tuo : " Surgery is no longer an option?"

Dr Kanu 〘MD〙 : " No; We've done all we can for you! I'm sorry."

Naole : " This can't be!"

Dr Kanu 〘MD〙 : " I'm truly sorry."

Tuo : " Naole; we have to be strong for the kids"

Naole : " Ooh No! What are we going to tell our sons?"

Tuo : " The truth!"

Naole : " I don't know; But I will do whatever you say."

Tuo : " The boys will take their queue from your reaction, so if you are calm and accepting they will do the same."

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Tuo, Naole and their two sons talked about their situation and the adults reached a decision on the family’s next course of action. Tuo always wanted to travel the world, therefore for the next several months they travelled the world. Since Naole was a major shareholder in Crystal Valley Industries the South African Government gave Naole's family official Government diplomatic travel documents.

Everywhere Naole's family landed they were received as officials of the Government of the South African Federation of City States. This afforded Naole's family official protection wherever they travelled, and this was important in keeping the Hodians from attacking them. Even as they travelled Naole used Indigo to run simulations on a possible treatment for Tuo's cancer. Naole was keenly aware of the genetic component in the development of cancer in Crystalan physiology, and that meant that Raole and Ralen were also at risk for developing cancer.

With his father Nalen long gone Naole knew that the only proof of successful manipulation of Crystalan physiology was locked inside his own body, and therefore Naole would have to look inside his own body for the answers. Naole feared for his children, he had already accepted Tuo's fate, but the death of his sons was something he was unwilling to contemplate. If he could not save his wife, then he would make sure that he saved their children.

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After 8 months of travelling Tuo could no longer travel so they returned home to Crystal Valley City to make final preparations for her death. Over the years the Crystalorb Research Division had developed the technology that allowed the bodies of Crystalans without Chest Crystal to be absorbed by the Spirit Stone, and even though a portion of their Spirits would not form part of the Spirit Stone it still gave Crystalans comfort to know that their loved one's final resting place was the Spirit Stone.

After 11 months Naole was no closer to finding a workable therapy, and Tuo's health had deteriorated even further. Tuo was on heavy medication at the Crystalorb Medical Centre, and because of this she was barely conscious for more than a few hours a day. The Council of Elders gave Naole special permission to stay in Crystalorb as a guest of the Council of Elders, and he was housed at the Executive Suite normally reserved for South African Government officials.

Naole took the opportunity to teach 5 year old Raole and Ralen about Crystalorb, but throughout Naole's stay in Crystalorb Enala made sure that her 15 year old daughter never came into contact with Naole. Enala knew that Naole would immediately recognise her energy signature as that of a Red Chest Crystal. However Canala wanted to meet her father, she wanted to know the man who had become a legend through his defiance of the Council of Elders.

Canala also recognised that this was not an appropriate time for her to bring up these issues, she empathised with Raole and Ralen who were after all her brothers. When the twins came to visit their aunt Casara onboard the Leba Canala would take the opportunity to spend time with Raole and Ralen. And with Tuo being a cousin to Enala, and also with Tuo being aware that she was dying she encouraged Canala to form a closer relationship with Raole and Ralen.

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Nearing death Tuo requested to see her sons so that she could say goodbye. As Naole brought them into the room the twins jumped onto the bed and laid by their mother's side. Tuo spent precious time with her kids talking to them and listening to them. At about 10PM the twins fell asleep, and Naole took them to another room. When Naole returned to Tuo's room he could see that Tuo was very tired.

Naole held Tuo's hand

Naole : " You've had a long day my darling."

Tuo : " I thought we would have more time, but fate has chosen differently"

Naole : " Yeah."

Tuo : " I love you Naole. I want you to remember that."

Naole : " Always! And I love you Tuo!"

Naole holds Tuo in his arms and they kiss.

Tuo : " I can see behind the veil now! You will be the light Preserver; Symbol of Hope."

Naole : " Preserver? Symbol?"

Tuo : " Goodbye my Love; You've been the brightest light in my life."

Naole : " Goodnight my Love; My true North! My Guiding Compass." tears running down Naole's face "I would have been lost without you."

Naole and Tuo embrace until Tuo falls asleep. This had been one of the more lucid days for Tuo, and she had been conscious for much longer than usual. Naole was delighted to have had the opportunity to share these precious moments with his wife, but he could not shake the feeling that Tuo would soon pass on, and that Tuo had taken the brief opportunity to say her final goodbyes.

Tuo never regained consciousness, and 29 hours later she died in her sleep. After Tuo's commitment ceremony Naole and his two young sons left Crystalorb for their home in Crystal Valley City, and even though they missed Tuo they found the strength to move on. Naole dealt with his grief by focusing on his scientific research, and after having spent time with the Crystalorb Research Division while they were preparing the baby ship Jalen for service he had an Idea.

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Naole decided that he would build his own ship with Indigo at its heart. The dimensions that Naole was looking for were 250 meters in length and 150 meters wide. Since Naole could not build something of that size he resolved that he would reverse engineer his fathers designs. When Naole was in Crystalorb he came upon Nalen's initial design for the Intrepid, and when he left Crystalorb Naole made copies of his father's designs.

In the years since leaving Crystalorb Naole had completed his PhD in Applied Mathematics, and then he furthered his studies by obtaining: a PhD in Computer Science, a Masters Degree in Physics and a PhD in Physics, a Masters Degree in Chemistry and a PhD in Chemistry, a Masters Degree in Operations Research and a PhD in Operations Research, a Masters Degree in Microbiology and a PhD in Microbiology. A total of 6 PhD's.

As Naole worked to build the 4 meter long ship around Indigo he realised that he would not be able to duplicate the small Crystalorb nuclear reactor, so Naole modified the designs to include a nuclear reactor of his own designs. In the end Naole made hundreds of modifications to the designs, and because of his link to Indigo his calculations were accurate, efficient and progressive. It took Naole 5 months to produce the 4 meter long and 2.5 meter wide ship that housed the Indigo.

All that remained was for the ship to be grown, but without access to the energy of the Spirit Stone Naole would have to use the energy from the sun, and that would mean that it would take 10 years for the Bio-Crystals to reach the desired dimensions. The Crystalorb ships were periodically fed Spirit Stone energy to make them grow when they were in port. Naole knew that the answer to his energy problems was in his own ability to absorb the suns energy.

As it was, Naole was absorbing the suns energy and then feeding it to Indigo for storage. Naole would then retrieve the energy and focus it through his Chest Crystal to stimulate growth in the Oval shaped ship called Indigo. Naole began to experiment with electrical energy, and it was this research into electrical energy that led Naole to the discovery about the true nature of his own body, his Chest Crystal and the modifications that his father Nalen had made when he was a child.

Naole was used to wearing a plastic prosthetic leg, but Naole always hoped to somehow be able to use his regenerative abilities to re-grow his leg. Even though Hodians, Hybrids and Crystalans could regenerate they could not replace a torn limb. The regenerative abilities were mainly the result of a highly advanced human healing process, and since humans did not re-grow limbs neither did Hodians, Crystalans and Hybrids.

Naole built a new prosthetic leg using his deep Blue Bio-Crystal, and because the new leg was formed from Crystal fragments from his energy reserve sphere it could serve as an energy storage system. As Naole tried to permanently attach the Bio-Crystalline prosthetic leg to the bone tissue below his knee he noticed a strange reaction between his bone tissue and the Bio-Crystal resulting in other tissue forming around the prosthetic leg.

Naole was conducting the surgery on himself through Indigo, and although the procedure was painful Naole found a way to anesthetise himself while remaining conscious. Because Naole's cells recognized the Bio-Crystals in the prosthetic leg the Bio-Crystal began to be integrated into the body's physiology. Skin and muscle began to grow around the prosthetic Bio-Crystalline leg.

In a matter of days the prosthetic Bio-Crystalline leg was fully integrated into Naole's body, and the mechanisms of the leg could be controlled through normal body movements. Naole's new foot was now covered with skin and feeling had once again returned to his leg, but because the leg was still artificial it was capable of much more than an ordinary foot, and the range of movements of the leg went beyond that of his other foot.

Naole could now store much more energy in his own body, and this could allow him to absorb sufficient energy from the sun which he would then feed to Indigo for storage. Naole would then retrieve the energy and focus it through his Chest Crystal to stimulate growth in the ship Indigo with the necessary materials harvested from the ocean floor. Before long the Indigo reached 350 meters in length and 210 meters wide. Naole began his vigorous training to prepare to defend his children from what he sensed was an imminent Hodian attack.

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The promotion of Nasan from Deputy Expeditionary Guardian to Guardian of Sector 9 left her previous position vacant, therefore the Council of Elders decided to promote Guardian Armoured Casara to Deputy Expeditionary Guardian, and this meant that Casara would become; Commander of Expeditionary Recognisance and Captain of the Intrepid. When Lesego died from brain cancer Aman was promoted to Deputy Guardian Commander.

It had been years since there was direct confrontations with the HOD, and the Council of Elders was beginning to once again believe in the prospect of peace with their Hodian counterparts, but events were unfolding that would test the true strength of all Crystalans. The forces of chaos were once again gathering and preparing to move against the order created by the presence of Crystalorb.

Naole's spirit could sense the advancing storm, and it was for this reason that he felt propelled to intensify his training. Casara also trained harder than usual because like Naole she could sense the advancing storm, and because she had the great responsibility of protecting Crystalorb she also prepared those under her command for possible attack. Many of the senior staff in Crystalorb disregarded Casara's concerns, and dismissed them as no more than the concerns of an inexperienced young Guardian.

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However the events that would unleash the forces of Chaos had nothing to do with the Hodians, but were entirely of the worlds making. Events were once again conspiring to test humanities ability to survive nature's cruel tendencies. Humanity's own advances were being turned against them, and all human progress would have to stand against the unyielding power of nature. Survival of the fittest would once again make an unwelcome entrance into the balanced equation of modern human life.

Incidentally the world was once again finding a new balance of power, and organised rivalries were being tempered by the benefits of trade and the proliferation of Ideas. It started like an ordinary outbreak of influenza, and the authorities in Gabon were assured that it would pass like many that came before it, but on closer examination it was learnt that this was no ordinary incidence of the influenza virus.

The first disturbing detail was the virus's incubation period. Three weeks was too long for an ordinary influenza virus, and the fact that the hosts became infectious before the full range symptoms set in was of great concern to medical professionals. When the first victims succumbed to the resulting fever the World Health Organisation 〘WHO〙 was placed on high alert for a possible global influenza pandemic.

But they were already too late! When the WHO issued the alert the influenza virus had already spread throughout the region, and from the region's business centres the influenza virus made its way to the rest of the world. As was the case with previous outbreaks the region that was first to become affected would suffer the largest incidence, and in this case it was west Africa. In two weeks over 19 million people were infected in the region, and an estimated 67 million around the world fell victim to the influenza virus.

By the time the influenza virus was finally contained 597 million people were infected around the world, and 197 million of the 597 million were in Africa. The influenza pandemic killed 20% of the Infected, 119.4 million people were killed, and 45 million were from African countries. In the days following the outbreak African Governments began to point the finger of blame towards the Islamic Alliance.

The militaries of the African Defence Alliance 〘ADA〙 were placed on high alert and the Islamic Alliance mobilized their forces for a possible confrontation with the ADA. The South African Government requested military support from Crystalorb. The South African Government wanted the Crystalorb ships to protect ADA countries from possible long range ballistic nuclear armed missile attacks on ADA cities.

On 11-02-2026 the Crystalorb Leadership mobilised the ships Gaurdius, Leba, Jalen and Intrepid to strategic locations in preparation to shoot down any missile launched against ADA countries. At this time Vanglead Armoured Enala was conducting covert surveillance on an underground HOD facility as part of her duties in the Expeditionary Recognisance. Enala's daughter Canala had recently received her Vanglead Armour and was being trained along with Nasara by Casara.

With the Crystalorb forces deployed Enala's extraction would have to wait, but Casara was concerned by the prospect of leaving her friend surrounded by enemies. Casara appealed to the Guardian Council for assistance in retrieving Enala from her precarious situation. The Guardian Council responded by assembling a team from the Mobile Assets Defence Division to conduct the extraction.

Enala's father Lord Cyris was unconvinced of the rescue plan, and sought a meeting with Naole to ask for Naole's assistance. Casara was sure that Naole is likely to refuse to assist Lord Cyris, but she informed Lord Cyris that there was one possibility of forcing Naole to help, and that was Canala. Even though Guardian Armoured Kato had reservations about bringing Canala to the meeting he agreed, and he would also go along as part of the protection detail of the Elder Lord Cyris.

Kato had recently been promoted to Deputy Guardian at the Crystalorb Command Centre, and this would be Kato's first mission in Guardian Armour, and Lord Cyris chose to travel by air. The location chosen for the meeting was the top of one of the peaks of the Drakensburg Mountains. For the first time in many years Lord Cyris put on his Guardian Armour and travelled to the secret location for a meeting with Naole, and when Kato, Canala, Lord Cyris and the other members of the Elder escort group arrived the Indigo was already hovering just above the mountain peak.

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When Lord Cyris landed the Indigo became visible long enough for Naole to disembark and fly to meet Lord Cyris on the mountain top

Cyris : " Thank you for coming Naole. I'm Honoured that you should travel so far."

Naole : " It is the least I could do for an old friend of my father."

Kato : " Good to see you again Naole. The Indigo is an impressive vessel."

Naole : " Thank you Kato. How are my sister and the kids in this time of crisis?"

Kato : " They are safe and protected thankfully."

Cyris : " Which is why we are here? Naole; we need your help."

Lord Cyris hands Naole a data chip containing the details of Enala's situation, and Naole inputs the data chip into a computer terminal on his hand that links to Indigo. Naole's mental link to Indigo allows him to instantly know all the information contained in the data chip.

Kato : " As you can see the rescue plan is inadequate. The nature of the underground complex makes it difficult for an air operation, but most of our forces are geared towards air operations."

Cyris : " The Ilesian Guards will need help."

Naole : " You want me to get involved?"

Cyris : " I know you and my daughter had some difficulties in the past, but the past belongs in the past Naole."

Naole : " Difficulties?"

Cyris : " You are an adult now, and you must make adult decisions."

Kato : " What ever went wrong between you and Enala must be relegated to youthful misadventure, but now she needs your help."

Naole : " Kato; you must understand the difficulties of my position. Enala is your family and therefore your responsibility, not mine."

Cyris : " Do it for us, not for her."

Naole : " I can't help you."

Cyris : " Why not?"

Naole : " Enala is neither a friend nor relative, and thus not my responsibility to protect."

Kato : " Then why won't you grant the request of a friend."

Naole : " Because I have other responsibilities! My kids have only one parent left, and I have no right to risk them being orphans. In these situations only blood can compel me to act."

Cyris : " Blood?"

Naole : " Yes; blood; Only a blood relative can ask me to risk my life, and since my sister is not here I have to assume that she feels no reason to force my hand."

Cyris : " Casara is involved in serious mission that could possibly change the fate of the entire world!"

Naole : " Nevertheless she is not here to ask this of me, and I won't do it for you Lord Cyris, or for you Kato."

Canala had disengaged her Vanglead Armour because she wanted the first time she met her father to be without Crystal Armour, and she wanted him to see her. Canala was standing about 5 meters from Kato, Naole and Lord Cyris, and she could hear the discussions, as she approached the three turned their attention to her.

Canala : " Would you consider doing it for me?"

Naole : " And you are?"

Cyris : " This is Canala; my granddaughter."

Canala : " Would you do it for me Father?"

Naole : " Father?"

Young Canala then removes the scarf around her neck to reveal a Red Chest Crystal.

Canala : " Would you do it for me Father? Would you do it for your daughter?"

Naole is stunned and speechless.

Cyris : " Naole; Canala is Enala’s daughter, and also your daughter."

Naole : " How?"

Kato : " When you were locked up Enala was already pregnant."

Cyris : " At the time we all agreed that you were in no state to be a father to Canala, your rage was out of control."

Kato : " As time went on the decision on when to tell you became Canala's."

Naole : " Another betrayal."

Canala : " Mother said you'd see it as a betrayal."

Naole : " She once again chose to deceive me. She once again chose to deny me the right to know."

Canala : " I've always known who my father is, and I've watched you from a distance. I know the kind of man you've become, and I’m proud to be your daughter. To me knowing has been enough. I hope that with time you will get to know me and be a part of my life, but first you have to help me. Please Father!"

Naole : " Ok Child; I'll do it."

Canala : " Thank you Father."

Kato : " Then you will have to go immediately if you want to arrive there before the rescue team."

Cyris : " If they start without you then all may be lost!"

The Indigo once again becomes visible as Naole channels more energy from the ship to himself, and when Ralen and Raole see this they disembark to find out why their father is absorbing energy.

Naole : " Don't worry Lord Cyris. Enala won't need a rescue team, I will see to that myself."

Ralen : " Where are you going Father?"

Raole : " What are you doing here Canala?"

Naole : " You Boys know Canala?"

Ralen : " She's Nasara's cousin."

Raole : " We see her all the time when we visit aunt Casara."

Cyris : " Tuo encouraged Canala to form a close relationship with the Boys."

Naole : " Even Tuo knew?"

Kato : " She was my cousin! The truth was obvious for anyone to see, but many of those who knew understood that the right to disclose to you belonged to Enala and Canala."

Naole : " I've reached full power! It's time for me to go!"

A moment later Naole then activates his Chest Crystal and produces Repulsive Electromagnetic energy that then allows him to hover

Kato : " It's that focus you need now; That strength; The power of a Crystal Guardian!"

Naole : " The Indigo will take all of you back to Crystalorb! I will be faster without it. Take care!"

Canala : " Good luck Father!"

Cyris : " May the Source guide your actions Naole!" Naole then disappears into the sky "No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to it!"

A moment later

Ralen : " Father is powering up."

Canala : " Wow! I can feel father’s Energy. He must be as powerful as aunt Casara.”

Kato : "Your father is an incredible man Canala."

Raole : " He can reach a power level that’s a hundred times greater than this."

Kato : "He's more powerful than I remember."

Canala : " Will he be OK?"

Cyris : " Flying without Crystal Armour is only the beginning. Naole is a power like no other."

Kato : " Quite possibly an Ascended Crystalan."

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Naole then activates his Chest Crystal which generates a blue aura and produces Repulsive Electromagnetic energy that then allows him to fly rapidly towards his destination.

As Naole approached the secretive Hodian facility in the kingdom of Swaziland he began to prepare himself for the battle ahead. Naole opened a Communications Channel with the rescue team from the Mobile Assets Defence Division that were also flying to the facility.

Naole informed the rescue party that he would be the decoy, and by making a direct assault on the main compound he would draw the main forces away from the secondary facilities, this will allow Enala a window of opportunity to escape undetected.

Naole informed the rescue team that they should not concern themselves with his fate, but to stand by and receive Enala once she escapes from the secondary underground compound.

Naole blasted his way into the main shaft elevator and went 1.3 kilometres down to the bottom of the mining complex, and as the facility’s security personnel moved in to confront Naole the rapid movement of Enforcers to Naole's position allowed Enala to move through the secondary shaft to the surface. Naole was masking his energy signature by disguising himself as a Hybrid, and he accomplished this by using his Chest Crystal to generate holographic projection of Hybrids in whatever area he was in.

The Enforcers believed themselves to be under attack from a Hybrid contingent, and their response was in accordance with that analogy. The HOD new that Crystal Armoured Crystalans were vulnerable in such close proximity mêlée and that the Crystalans preferred to conduct operations from the air where they held the advantage. So naturally the HOD assumed that the Crystalans would not dare to launch a close proximity confrontation such as the one they were facing.

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Meanwhile at the Crystalorb Command Centre the Crystalorb Commanders received an emergency Communiqué from the Intrepid.

Intrepid : " Commander there's been an explosion onboard the ship. The ship is going down. I repeat the ship is going down."

The Crystalorb Command Centre receives emergency Communiqués from the Leba, the Gaurdius and the Jalen; also reporting explosions onboard. Anun and Aman are coordinating activities from the Crystalorb Command Centre

Aman : " Sabotage?"

Anun : " I'm officially ordering all Crystalorb Forces to high alert! We are under attack; I repeat; We are under attack."

Aman : " Casara; Casara! Report status now!"

Casara : " Commander; The bombs have cut off the ship's energy supply! I'm powering the ship directly from my Armour, but it's not enough we're going to hit the ground hard! I've advised the other Captains to do the same. Commander; is Crystalorb secure?"

Anun : " Crystalorb is on High alert, but we are secure; The Cannons ...!"

BaBoooom!

Before Commander Anun could finish the Joint Communications Channel goes silent

BaBoooom!

Boooom! Boooom!

A massive series of explosions occur at the Crystalorb Gates, the Crystalorb Ventilation Centre, the Crystalorb holographic Broadcast Centre, the Crystalorb Medical Centre, the Crystalorb Research Centre, Armour Storage Centre and the Crystalorb Command Centre.

The explosion at the Armour Storage Centre occurred as hundreds of people were collecting their Crystal Armours in response to the change in alert status.

Struggling to control the Intrepid Casara tried to re-establish communications with Crystalorb

Casara : " Crystalorb come in! Commander Anun come in!" Speaking to one of the ship's officers "Did we loose external communications?"

Coms-Officer : " No Captain; Crystalorb is off-line!"

Casara : " What?"

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The Indigo detects the seismic disturbance and unilaterally changes course for Naole's position at Maximum velocity. At Crystalorb thousands of Enforcers pour into Crystalorb and begin a massive assault at the heart of Crystalorb. Any who stands in their way is killed, and the remaining Crystalorb forces find themselves having to defend Crystalorb against an endless number of enemies, but the greatest shock was when they discovered who was leading the Hodian invasion.

One of Crystalorb's own had turned against Crystalorb and joined the Hand of Destiny. A Guardian had betrayed his oath; abandoned his intended purpose. It was Amun; Guardian of Sector 11, Son of Kolen and Grandson of Gaurdius. Amun and others had defected to the Hand of Destiny, and then assisted the HOD by helping Hodian spies infiltrate the Crystalorb security forces. With Hodian help they smuggled explosives onboard the ships and at strategic centres in Crystalorb.

Crystalorb's Forces were preoccupied with the Enforcers, Under-Lord, Overlords and Grandlords, leaving Amun and his contingent free to attack the Spirit Stone.

Hundreds of Hodian fired their weapons at the Spirit Stone, and this forced the Spirit Stone to take a defensive posture. The Spirit Stone generated a protective energy field shield around itself to protect itself against the Negative Psionic Energy contained in the Hodian energy attacks.

Amun had anticipated the Spirit Stone's response, and so the Hodians attached a newly developed Negative Psionic Energy storage device to Amun's Guardian Crystal Armour. With increased Negative Psionic Energy Amun attached an energy field around the Spirit Stone and lifted it off its cavity on the pyramid and flew with it up the elevator shaft and through the Crystalorb Gates.

Outside the Crystalorb Gates Amun's accomplices who were equipped with the new Manacle of Destiny also attached a Negative Psionic Energy field around the Spirit Stone and helped Amun fly away with the Spirit Stone.

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