The Kainians

After a long and extended journey, Sable's Gaze, scout vessel of the Kainian Empire entered real space.

Several minutes later, Puruga, scout vessel, entered real space.

Minutes later, Fifth Digit, lead battlecruiser, entered real space.

And so on and so forth. The fleet, sixty ships strong, found themselves in the star system labeled Aurala, and its fourth planet, Pandema, was directly ahead. The fleet Admiral under the same name stood at the forefront of his battleship, staring ahead, and with a signal, ordered the retaking of the system.

"Any EVO vessels on radar?" the Admiral asked.

"Nothing yet, sir."

"Keep searching. They have to be here. We've lost too much time."

Within 24 hours, several battlegroups had checked the nearby celestial bodies and came up clean with no sign of the enemy. However, as they approached the Pandemian orbit, they found the debris.

"We have the evidence, sir," an observation officer brought up the wreckage. "EVO starfighters and missiles. That means there's a beacon around here."

"And the ship itself?"

"Scanning...it's below us! Wait...It's on the ground. Two of them."

"They...crashed?" The Admiral looked over the planet from below his glass bridge. Something was off. "Send a scout team below to investigate."

By the time the Albatrosses could make their way to the planet, it was the middle of the day, and the Kainian forces, clad in white body armor, trembled under the hot sun. They surrounded the massive wreck. The remains of Flock 37 and 38 were crushed entirely on one side, and the needle, the sturdiest section of the vessel, was dug firmly into the dry earth. When they crawled and ripped their way through, they found evidence of blood and scorch marks. A fight had happened, but they weren't sure when, but the further they went in, the more obvious it was that the place was evacuated. There were simply not enough bodies.

"Any idea where they went?" asked a soldier. "Did anyone see a settlement nearby?"

The Major among them thought about it, but then something came live on her radio. She answered. "Who is this?"

The voice on the other end switched to Kainian. "This is Warrant Officer Daniel Scheffield. We can see you guys from our encampment. Approach the cave systems 0.08 by 13.5. We'll let you all in."

They were being watched? The whole scouting troupe broke out of the derelict and reboarded for a two-minute flight to a hole in the wall. The hole was narrow initially but spread over time into an open cavern system, vast and industrious in its creation, echoing with new manufacturing. The metal and iron were clean and pristine. Recent renovations.

"Stop, state your business," the guard sniffed. "Or we'll shoot or something."

The Kainians checked their translators to make sure they were updated on the language. "We are here to meet with your leaders...Are you alright?"

"We've all been getting sick recently. Some of us have been bedridden for a few days, but we're alright." It would take the Kainians a few days to realize that Pandema had been hit with global infection. Whatever cold or flu their Earthling allies brought to the burrows was taking its toll. Still, their immune systems were handling the deadly disease much better than expected. The differences in DNA strands really made the difference. For the Kainian fleet, this was a relief, and vaccinations could be planned for the future.

When the fighting force came in and dazzled the locals with their brilliance, they met with the officer himself, a little worse for wear from the past month but was holding out well. He shook the Major's hand with pride.

"You're the highest-ranked officer here?" the Major asked.

"I'm pretty sure by the time we get back to Earth, I'll be a captain," Daniel said. "But until then, yes. If you're wondering where the EVO is, I'm afraid they've all been killed."

"They're dead? How?"

"Hold on there!" A voice shouted from up high, and the newly upgraded Dr. Devol descended from her perch via rope, landing with a heavy clang. "I deserve credit for that! You are Kainians, yes?"

"Y-Yes, we are?"

"Major, this is the sovereign leader of Ublaneth, the country we're in. Asmada Devol. We've briefed her on everything."

"As the first Pandemian to meet you, I happily accept your offer as guide and diplomat. First, may I have one of your weapons? They look much more advanced than the pale ones."

"Enough!" The Major stood straight, using his height to his advantage. "The system was jammed. We were stuck in the wormhole for weeks. What happened to the EVO invasion!?"

"Well sir, we had a plan to destroy the jammer using the Betelgeuse, so if you're here-."

"The blonde one succeeded!"

The Betelgeuse. The Major heard that name in a report an hour ago but couldn't remember the details. Still, the look of relief on their faces said a lot. In fact, the Kainians should be relieved too. Whatever they did, the Betelgeuse saved this planet.

"That is impressive," he said. "Your Captain must've been a hell of a guy."

"Must've?"

"No, don't be confused!" Devol piped. "I destroyed one of them with the power of my core! Ublaneth deserves the credit!"

"Core?"

The Kainians looked up, and suddenly, the realization hit them. They were so used to their own engines that they didn't consider one towering over the cavern to be that out of the picture. The higher the rank, the more animated the Kainians were.

"Welcome to the Kainian Empire, Governor," The Major saluted. "Please, come with us to visit the Admiral."

"With pleasure."

Days passed, and the Kainians secured the system. They determined that they were well ahead of the potential EVO fleet, and given their numbers and logistics line, they could have the place locked down and impassable in no time. No expenses spared for a human world.

An ambassador came to the city of Rydia to see if it was under reconstruction. The crushed and singed metropolis was bristling with life as those who escaped underground reemerged to find a new way of life. The city will not be as beautiful as it has been for thousands of years, but it would do.

The ambassador came to the Emperor, who, despite having a melted heap of gold as a temple, still resided there as a temporary resident. As the stone laying commenced around them, Szeer took to the luminescent creature and shook his hand.

"You're as dazzling as I was told," he said.

"It's good, you know," the ambassador replied. "Welcome to our empire. I was told by your ambassador to come to you next. Provide special privileges, it seems."

"That which will always be our enemy! Do not be fooled by her charms, but thank you."

"I see." He smelled a grudge far beneath Kain's interests, but they'd make a note of it. "We're also looking to find a Sam Reynolds. We have some pressing news for her."

"The girl?" Szeer's brows furrowed. Another agent he wouldn't forgive, but this anger quickly subsided, as if he couldn't help himself. "She's likely with the Vinisoyas. I'll mark it on the map where to find their settlement, but first, come eat with us. I wish to talk about arms deals."

On the next Albatross ride out, Admiral Aurala himself flew across the vast desert world of Pandema. They found the mountains of red rock and endless golden sand dunes, where the Redstreaks tried to reach for a bite of the plane. The Monsoos were as invasive as ever, proving that no matter the hunting, the world was no match for Dr. Devol's science.

"This world is insane!" the pilot said through his comms helmet. "Makes me wish we dressed better for this."

"I agree," Aurala replied. "If I had to choose between one Earth and ten Pandemas, I'd choose Earth."

The dropship found the marked oasis and landed on a solid bedrock of redstone. The oasis was beautiful enough to see from afar, but the Rae lounging in the hot sun proved to be an easier marker. The crew came out with minor apprehension, not wanting to piss the thing off but were courageous enough to do so. The Emperor said to treat it with grace.

"Greetings um, Dozae-Rae?" Admiral Aurala asked. "Do I have that right?"

"You do," he replied, sipping on the oasis water. "More tailless ones, I see. Have you come to take me off planet?"

"Why would we do that?"

"I was promised by the red-haired one. You look like her people."

"We're taking home...a dragon?"

"I am human."

"...Really."

"Can't you tell?"

"My lord, please do not tease the Kainians," Maed-Laio said, walking out of the house. "Also, my lord, you're in the vegetable patch again."

The entire Kainian welcoming party froze in place as if instantly enchanted by the lady before them.

"You are Vinisoya, yes?" Aurala asked. "Is Sam Reynolds here?"

"I'm afraid-." She stopped as multiple gliders zipped over their heads. The men of Vinisoya Manor were preparing to hunt. "She left some time ago. It's just us Rydians here."

"Do I have to ask where?" Aurala huffed.

"Somewhere in the equatorial jungle."

"Where's specifically?"

She shrugged.

The Admiral sighed. He hated this planet already. "If she returns in the next month, give her this information. It's about her father."