Origin

[|nfrared]

The Enemy


I returned, exhausted but proud. I had done what none of my people had thought possible. I had come back. For some time I rested, my fellow survivors giving me a chance to recover after my ordeal. The rich Iridium atmosphere aboard the Temple replenished me quickly, and soon I was summoned to appear before what was left of my people. I bonded myself with the Temple's computer grid, as it had been designed to. Etherium barely spoke beyond a whisper and using this method Shard could show everyone an exact record of the events after he left the Orbital research facility. I had something terrible to show them.

As Shard began his debriefing, everyone could see a great burden was weighing heavily on him. He knew what they wanted to see, that they were safe for now, and in that moment he wished he could fabricate those memories as if he had seen nothing out in the void. But he knew he must show them the truth.

He showed the images of the exterior of the Temple complex as he had left, and to their great relief it did not appear as damaged as they had first come to believe. He could feel their joy swelling at this news. The diagnostic on the star was also hopeful.

Then a slight hesitation as Shard replayed his memories through the large viewers.

A panic was felt through the Command Centre, and disruption threatened to overwhelm the assembled Etherium until Shard showed the next image

A great wave of happiness went through the Etherium. The new weapon system could in fact destroy these beings. It was also noted that they appeared slower and weaker than the beings that had attacked the Empire. The experimental vessel had performed perfectly, and Shard with it. He continued broadcasting his thoughts through the viewers. He began showing the wreckage he had discovered of unknown origin.

This drew gasps of astonishment. The Etherium people had never seen anything like this, and the designs did appear more primitive than their own. He then showed them the jumpholes he had mapped, indicating on the screens where he suggested the deployable weapons platforms should be placed.

Seeing that Shard clearly needed more time to recover, the assembly dismissed him while they digested this new information. Their worst fears had been realised - The invaders were here.

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Shard - The Faceless One