Unknown Cycles Later, somewhere in the Northern Territory, Unknown Forest.

The sight before me is unclear, my mind has difficulties comprehending the current predicament. I can see strange shapes in the distance, but I can't quite make them out. Surrounding me is a familiar dense liquid, it permeates my entire form, it's warm and welcoming, beckoning me to rest. The shapes before me become clearer, and time moves forward or backwards. I'm truly not sure, there is some sort of impasse before me, some force field, I think. No, it's a thin sheet of glass... Yes, I am dwelling within a large vat, it is so familiar yet I can't quite put my finger on it.

My gaze then cast to another strange shape, just beyond the restraining vat I am isolated within. The shape moves from side to side before lunging forward, a shape appears pressed against the glass, compelling me to meet it. I struggle forward and with my minimal strength, press my own hand against the weight. The shape is larger than mine yet the shape is similar. I am warm, and I feel safe here, I don't understand why, but I know this shape is important. I feel as though I can stay here, perhaps I will be happy here.

No, I have tasks to perform and goals to achieve, I tear away from the shape and rise out of these oppressive depths, towards the light. Opening my eyes, I perceive a flashing control panel, realising my situation I quickly ascend to a seating position. The environment before me was the cockpit, recalling events I immediately grasped the situation. Casting my gaze to the ship's blank screen, I realised the ship is still deactivated and on emergency power.

To my left is a slumped-over Xirak, he seems alive with minor injuries. I lean back on my chair and relax my body before chuckling in laughter over the incident. Truly Randax and I had similar ideas of a ship-wide kill switch. I should have seen this coming, yet I didn't, another failure on my part... Well sitting here won't change anything.

I rose from my chair, inspecting my body and combat suit which has minimal damage and is fully functional. I turn towards Xirak and shake him awake; he rises suddenly giving me a slight shock as he speaks with a groggy voice. "What... What happened?" The former Demthesian officer shakes his head in confusion, before glancing around. His eyes finally befall my visage and he waits expectantly for my reply.

I shrug my shoulders; they are a bit stiff from the crash or from wearing this armour. I notice his expectant gaze and decide to alleviate his interest. "It seems your former employer Randax disabled the ship, causing it to crash somewhere," I speak nonchalantly as I am already calculating a potential solution for this event, yet his reaction was almost dramatic. He started talking to himself or grumbling to himself, I'm not sure what he is saying, it's in his native tongue. Regardless I command my implant to record every word and file it under the category of Demthesian culture and language.

I wait for him to come to his senses before grasping the Gatling laser in both hands. Forcing him out of the cockpit towards the main room. As we both travel to the centre of the ship, I can hear a commotion coming from the destination, arriving near the corridor entrance, I hear someone yelling in Garudan. "You are all heretics; you dare oppose our god's will!" The screaming seems to originate from some injured Garudan waving around a laser rifle, grasping a young Garudan child as a hostage.

The Garudan was facing a group of his fellow kin, led by Tova all brandishing weapons against him. His back was facing me, while he spews more of that religious drivel. Something about being chosen by the sky fall divine and charged with a holy mission to spread the name of... Oh, whatever. Annoyed at the continuation of these events, regretting sparing the lives of these Garudan guards, I shift the Gatling laser to my right shoulder. I glance down at the Garudan child and notice his height is only half his captor, his frightened appearance is slight to the right.

With the right angle measured, I quickly draw my laser pistol holstered at my left side and fire upon the madman. The laser bolt arcs towards the back of his head and with a splatter of blood he falls to the ground, releasing the child. The child flees to Tova's arms just as I step forward and glance around the room, displaying my weapons and intimidating presence.

Noticing that the other injured Garudan guards are all situated in a clumped group to the left, luckily devoid of weapons. I announce with a loud tone of voice, commanding everyone to listen. "Your god is not here, I am in charge and if you have an issue with that, speak up now!" I stand up straighter than I ever have before, gazing at every potential threat before me and behind me. Tracking their faces, hands and body language. Noticing that not a single act of defiance remains, Tova and his people display submission. I smile slightly as more important actions are needed.

I move forward to command Tova to keep the remaining captives in check, he responds quickly ordering his followers to keep an eye on them. With that situation sorted, I turned to Xirak, calling him over to me and the cowering Demthesian engineers beside me. With the three before me, I quickly queried about the ship's state and how to fix it. Unfortunately, they seemed just as confused by these events, I had initially expected they were the ones that implemented this kill switch.

Either they are well versed in deception or Randax had implemented this without their knowledge, regardless I ordered the two engineers to check the ship and find a solution. Tova sent some of his followers to guard them while I ordered Xirak to accompany me towards the exit of the ship. Naturally, Tova followed behind us, his gaze was glaring intensely at Xirak who was not concerned in the slightest, I noted this but carried on regardless.

All three of us reached the off-ramp, I turned to the right and pressed the emergency exit panel, luckily that system was still active as the ramp started descending. Exposing the outside world, the three of us quickly departed to assess the damage. Surrounding us was naturally a dense forest. Truly this planet was one giant forest covering everything. I walked forward for a few steps and turned around to assess the ship's state. Thankfully the ship was at first glance in one piece, it was sticking out of a giant crater with many trees' surrounding it, now flattened by the crash.

At least the ship looks to be able to fly if we can ever manage to reactivate the main systems. I sighed in resignation before a concept sprung to my mind. I then opened the suit's communication module and was happy to see that Pok and Zatrophos had since appeared. I guess the jamming signal doesn't reach this far out, I was about to send a communication request to Pok, right before the sound of a tree's parting can be heard behind me.

I quickly turned around, brandishing my Gatling laser ready to unleash a flurry of fire upon the enemy. Staring intently, I notice a figure emerging from the dense foliage, and my resolve tightens. The large figure barrels through the trees, I read my finger on the trigger. One figure appears in the light of the sun; I withdraw my lethal intent. The sight of Pok's combat suit is visible, he moves forward with his rifle up and his soldiers behind.

Noticing me he quickly lowers his weapon, steps forward and greets me with a quick salute. I reply with the same gesture, stepping to greet him. "Pok, how are the squads, any casualties?" Since communication had been jammed, casualties were my first concern, during these uncertain times.

Pok replied, thankfully with a no before casting his gaze towards the two behind me. His helmet drifted between the Demthesian and Garudan before he reached for his helmet and stepped forward. Extracting his helmet before placing it to his side under his arm, his facial expression exclaims in shock. His eyes linger upon the form of Tova and a nagging inclination starts to surface, perhaps they know each other.

My assumption is immediately verified by the two loudly exclaiming each other's names and rushing towards each other. What followed was a strange ritual I couldn't help but observe with interest. The two Garudan's arrived before each other. Once they were only a short distance, they both presented their bare hands for each other's inspection. Pok had since removed his gloves and presented them, they both inspected them with keen interest, turning them over several times.

They both nodded over and over again with jovial smiles, each commenting on some facet of their appearance. "Magunda marka nag laba." They were speaking Garudan, something about having promising or better battle marks. I had not seen such a manner of greeting before, perhaps it's a personal trait or cultural one.

Regardless of their interesting culture I turned back to witness a familiar Wokan arrive from the forest, his grumbling voice could be heard even through the combat suit. Zatrophos arrived with his squad, and he started moving towards me, but suddenly stops in his tracks. His helmet turned towards Xirak in an instant, like a predator locking eyes with prey, quickly he extracts his rifle from his back and aimed the barrel.

Taking an aggressive stance, the squad behind him immediately raise their weapons with lethal intent, in response to their commander. Zatrophos steps forward towards the now wary Demthesian officer and roars loudly. "Demthesian filth!" Aiming his weapon, almost ready to pull the trigger and unload every cartridge into his perceived enemy. I step in between them, moving my armoured body between the two.

In between the two sides, I would naturally feel as if I am between two beasts ready to maul each other, yet I seem quite calm despite the situation. I glance back at Xirak who displays a fearful expression, his gaze darting around the forest, perhaps looking for an effective exit. I leave his visage to the back of my mind and turn back to the enraged Wokan and speak calmly. "Pralator Zatrophos, as your Commander, I order you to stand down." I exclaim in a monotone voice, my word seems to have some effect as not only does Zatrophos wavers in his resolve but Pok and his squad jump into action, standing by me with their weapons drawn.

Zatrophos continues to stare at the fearful Demthesian officer, before removing his helmet, throwing it to the floor and bellowing at the top of his lungs. "I cannot obey that order, Commander. This is the enemy, no mercy, no sparing of lives, only corpses to lay at the war God's feet... Gia dox!" Expounding upon his blind hatred, Zatrophos screams the Wokan battle cry before he activates his rifle. Causing the weapon to charge with electromagnetic energy, generating a whining sound. His lethal intent was obvious at a glance, I believe he will fire at a moment's notice.

Despite the dire situation I'm In, I retain my calm and quickly analyse the situation, coming to a conclusion I speak directly. "Zatrophos... Do not kill this one, he is my prisoner and is no longer a threat." It was sound reasoning, yet I doubt he will comply, so I continue speaking. "You are not Zekton... Are you?" Asking this question was something I would prefer not to do, but given the situation, it is a must.

Zatrophos grumbles angrily, his insectoid eyes narrowing towards me, a feel a trace of anger directed at me. With his weapon still trained upon Xirak, he roars furiously. "Don't you dare compare me to him!" The indignity he exudes is palpable, he clenches his weapon firmly, struggling to maintain his calm yet still retaining well enough. "I am no butcher, but I cannot allow this one to live. The Demthesian's slaughtered my people, I shall avenge Ter-Masa, I shall avenge her!" His anger is reasonable although misguided, it's likely this particular Demthesian had very little involvement, yet I can't be certain of that, but of course neither can he.

He steps forward once more, still levelling his weapon, yet I am more interested in his particular wording, from what I have heard. Wokan's have never referred to a planet with a female connotation. Likely this her, he is referring to is the clutch kin he mentioned. He only told me some knowledge about the siege of Ter-Masa, but when he mentioned chemical weapons, I put two and two together. With this information, I calm my breathing and step forward until I am right in front of him. He responds to me with a slight shift in his eye-line, but still retains his gaze upon Xirak.

I turned to his weapon and grasped it lightly with my right hand, my palm resting on top of the barrel as I speak to him softly. "Killing him will not bring her back, nothing can change the past and killing someone just because they are the same species changes nothing." The words I am speaking are new to me, I had no real experience with loss. Only my own analysis of historical events. I had learned a great deal from the unchangeable, none more important than you can't change it, you can only do better.

The Wokan's hands clench harder, I gaze at his near-unblinking eyes and detect a note of moisture. I wonder what that is. His voice break's and sounds strange, yet I listen intently. "She died in my arms, burning from the inside... No matter how far we got... No matter the distance we travelled to escape that hell hole, she... She died anyway!" His gaze turns to me, his expression was unfamiliar, something I had not seen on a Wokan, perhaps Gem once showed me such an expression.

His face was downcast, a greater amount of moisture appeared surrounding his eyes, and he spoke to me directly. "I am not Zekton... I do not kill civilians... But any Demthesian that raises the flag of the Legionary army is my enemy... And I will kill them, all of them." The resolve in his voice is difficult to change, how can I convince such an already steadfast individual fuelled by hatred and a prior loss?

These thoughts race through my mind right before I hear Xirak's calm voice from behind me, lingering with a strange tone. "I never agreed with what they did to Ter-Masa... I was aboard the ship when the order was given... And no matter how much I opposed it; my opposition meant nothing." The Demthesian speaks with that strange tone, perhaps emotion or something else. He takes a step forward as if unafraid and speaks directly to Zatrophos. "I watched them unleash the chemical weapon upon the planet... I wish I could have done something, but I could only watch as your people were wiped out." His gaze glances down, his posture slumps, his shoulders begin to tremble noticeably, and he continues his speech. "Apetyach lypemi." Speaking in a familiar language, if I am not mistaken, he is speaking the old Wokan language, though I am unfamiliar with the term.

I glance back to Zatrophos, somewhat shocked at this turn of events, the Wokan is now trembling. I believe he is frustrated with some decisions, likely to shoot or not shoot. After some time, I notice a change, his grip on the weapon lessens as he releases a loud grunt and then lowers his weapon angrily. A collective sigh could be heard from several people surrounding us. Zatrophos then turns his back and walks over to his squad. With that situation resolved I moved over to Xirak, and assessed him with scrutiny, before ordering him inside the downed ship, to which he complies.

It seems Xirak has some knowledge, I should extract it when I have the time. I then turn back to Zatrophos and give some further orders. "Zatrophos, take squad liberty and scout the surrounding area for enemies, if anyone is found, try to capture them alive." We are in relatively unknown territory and it's best I have a proper lay of the land. Luckily a now calmed-down Wokan squad leader, replies with affirmation before leading his troops on his mission.

Watching the backs of the surly Wokan soldiers vacate into the forest. I feel a sense of foreboding, conflict seems inevitable at this point. I shake my head trying to come up with a less blood-soaked solution and coming up with nothing yet, so instead, I turn my mind to other tasks. I return to the ship and glance at Pok and Tova still jovially chatting in their native language, something about a female Garudan from their village, I can't quite grasp it. Regardless I move over to them and speak directly. "There are Garudan's in the ship, some seem to be under the effects of Vixorm, can you two assess their wellbeing and set up a defensive perimeter." They both turn to me and reply with different responses, Tova grunts in affirmation whilst Pok salutes. Tova turns to Pok with a questioning gaze only to witness Pok with a strange grin.

I decided to leave the education of our current situation to Pok and Tova. Instead, I enter the ship, making my way back to the cockpit. Passing through the ship's central room I witness several moaning Garudan's, the pain was evident, and many of the young and old had been injected with Vixorm. Some are grasping their bodies tightly, with a few commenting on a sudden drop in body temperature or itchy sensations. I was informed of the symptoms; these are just the initial ones that proceed with the complete withdrawal. If the following symptoms are not pleasant, we can either develop a treatment or inject them with more Vixorm. Neither method is viable now and I can only stay the course while their kin care for them as best they can.

I enter the cockpit and notice a large burly Garudan wielding a laser rifle keeping an eye on Xirak. Tova must have ordered one of his men to do so. I step forward gaining the gazes of the two. The Garudan's eyes were soft when they grasped my visage, he presented his weapon. I returned a typical Garudan greeting before meeting Xirak who was seated in the pilot's seat, leisurely. I arrived before him; his seated form was below me. I stood straight in a towering position, my visage seems to affect him, and he immediately turns to me. He straightens his posture before I speak. "So, you were once a military officer in the Demthesian Legion?" My questioning gaze absents any room for him to dodge the question. I maintain this commanding posture awaiting the answer I desire.

He grumbles slightly before relaxing his posture once more, a tad disrespectful but I am not his commander, so I'll let that slide. The Demthesian then narrows his gaze, his eyes glimmering with resignation before he replies with an exhausted tone. "Communication's officer to be exact, former communications officer to be even more exact." His tone notes something odd as if he is dissatisfied or perhaps ashamed of his prior position. His eyes are downcast, his tone gyrates up and down in pitch.

He leans back with a sour expression, and gazes at the ship's blackened observer screen before speaking, without casting his gaze back to me. "Communications and Logistic Officer Xirak Kastes formerly of the Seventh Legionary Fleet, aboard the Altair Battleship Sepharos. Formerly under the command of Admiral Venok Malketh... or General Sibela Jaris depends who you ask." The manner of his words denotes a higher pitch when commenting on these two names, perhaps that is this notorious sarcasm I have learned of.

Well despite his nonchalant attitude, information is valuable regardless, the only case is if this information is reliable. I would like to probe more but I must contact Quroken and the others. I turn to the Garudan guard who is still eyeing Xirak intensely and request he take Xirak to the main room. He agrees and the two exit. Now alone I turn to the control panel and see if there is any power left. The ship's systems seem to be operating except for the engine and weapons. I tap into the communications panel and notice a startling discovery, both Quroken's, Itoa's and Hera's ships are missing from the communication register. That can only mean their ships are no longer broadcasting, concerned I proceed to extract my datapad and try to contact Quroken's communications device.

Some time passes and no response, I try Grisha's, Itoa's and Hera's with no such luck either. Growing more and more concerned I come to the conclusion that my associates have either been subdued by Randax or communications are being jammed. Realising the dire situation, being behind enemy lines with no ability to communicate I can only focus on the task at hand. The one thing I don't understand is where is all this technology coming from, communication jammers, advanced Demthesian weaponry and the modifications to this ship. None of this technology was on the Ruktan's cargo manifest, it's very likely I am missing something here, something else is at work.