64 light years away

[Omicron]

...Somewhere in barrier nebula...

Electronic clock rings, heralding beginning of another day based solely on an artificial standard catering to human biology and shifts of the crew. Valkyrie opens her eyes, staring at dreadful device from hell itself, violently abrupting her bliss sleep. As she was handling the morning’s routine, PDA left in the corner lighted up, bringing new assignment for the day to come. Reviewing those while still finishing substitute of coffee, substandard to what she used previously to remain vigilant in more difficult schedules like this.

Delegated away from intelligence gathering duty and occasional hunting of designated enemies, Valkyrie’s next assignment was like any other before. Sigh followed thoughts whether she gets special treatment due to her connections or not, Kate as her true name did not spend much time with the actual regular units to know answer to this question.Fully suited up, she took a last glance into the mirror. This uniform still feels foreign to her. Finally, she went out through the corridors.

Silently grateful to whoever put her temporary accommodation so close to usual points of interests for her, she entered bigger room where other soldiers gather as it was commanded. Name of “OCV Fedayeen” displayed on the most visible places within the room itself. Taking one of the seats in the first row, she cautiously watched when the actual show would begin. As everyone was accounted for, officer at elevated post laid out next important mission. It did not concerned Valkyrie, all the data displayed were delivered by her own recon flight on behalf of Special Operations Command.

What she tries to forget is the alien structure. The Order knew of it way before yet technical limitations prohibited establishing operations over there until recently. Now their interests will revolve around unhuman example of ominous architecture and she is to take part in this. Now the point has come to reveal true purpose for whole charade and chasing across abandoned obelisks. Name and file display on screen for all to see. Kyle Sadler… defected from The Order years ago. In fact person so irrelevant that in any other circumstance would be crossed out as an lost asset unable to harm the organisation in any way. What made this case special… he was tracked all the way to the alien station. Named “The Shrine” as far as the interrogations could extract from cultists and other them kin.

“Son of a…”

She stopped after losing her grip on the situation for a while. So far ten more denizens have been more or less identified, yet they were merely secondary targets. “...Terminate…” officer mentioned, giving out operational priorities to armed section of the party meant to dive into lion’s den. In total, twenty people were believed to be living inside Shrine, likely brainwashed by the Nomads. As they were going inside, there was absolutely no option to spare a couple of Nomad huggers while at it. Lightly armed, not expecting anyone to go after them rendered a vision of relentless slaughter - very likely outcome that not even Kate was comfortable with.

“What is he trying to prove?” Whispering to herself, having her brother in mind. Regaining interest in the briefing, she started to soak up more information, coming from sources not revealed to her until this very moment. Quickly realizing, this entire raid was meant to cleanse territory for upcoming science mission towards creepy asteroids she encountered on her recon sortie. Purging is merely a cold, calculated side mission carried out due to an arising occasion.

“25, graduate of Cambridge university. Signed up with The Order and served as an technician in our ranks until making run for it four years ago. Minimal combat training, always been more of an idealistic pacifist. I have to repeat, we have no use for him alive. He is not connected to any Nomad cult and made his way to The Shrine on his own initiative. Him and many other misguided, revere their alien overlords in middle of god forsaken, irradiated system.”

"They are lost... so bury them."

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