Ghosts of the Past...

[Kane]

All was well in Alpha Unknown. The pact between the Nomads and the Phantoms was sealed, even if the Nomads didn't fully trust the C'Tan or their, as they put it bluntly, puppets. That was fine with DarkStar. So long as the two were not fighting each other, he could live with it.

The reason he was out this far, in this radioactive system, as because a special guest was aboard. One of the C'Tan surgeons, for lack of a better term, as here to provide Enlightenment, and to improve the already impressive psychic and physical abilities of certain Phantoms. All was well in Alpha Unknown. The pact between the Nomads and the Phantoms was sealed, even if the Nomads didn't fully trust the C'Tan or their, as they put it bluntly, puppets. That was fine with DarkStar. So long as the two were not fighting each other, he could live with it.

The reason he was out this far, in this radioactive system, as because a special guest was aboard. One of the C'Tan surgeons, for lack of a better term, as here to provide Enlightenment, and to improve the already impressive psychic and physical abilities of certain Phantoms.

The Surgeon was finishing up with DarkStar himself when the bridge called down to him.
"Sir, we're picking up a strange contact on long range sensors. You might want to take a look at this."
DarkStar sighed and walked over to the comm. "I'm on my way." He turned back to the Surgeon. "Perhaps you would like to see how we deal with intruders, my lord?"
The alien cocked the somewhat largish jellyfish head to one side.
*Yes, I would. Lead on, Enlightened One.*
DarkStar bowed and took the C'Tan up to the bridge.

"Very well helmsman. Where is this intruder?"

"Thats the thing sir... After we found it, it was gone."

"Gone?" DarkStar's eyebrows rose. "How can it be gone?"

"I... I don't know sir. We had a definite lock, but then... Wait a second... Unknown contact within 1000 M! Red alert!"

"What!?" DarkStar spun to face the main view screen, now showing a strange ship drifting in space. Only, the ship wasn't of any design known to DarkStar. It was hard-edged, lumped, almost like... Like some kind of crystal formation...

The C'Tan turned paler and instinctively backed away from the screen.
*Miraluka...*

Without warning, the ship screamed in to attack. Literally screamed. It was a scream of hate, rage, pain, sorrow... The final act of something dying. The ship flashed past, slicing through the shields and armor, venting gasses and liquids into space.

"Bring that ship down!" DarkStar shouted, and the guns came to life. Crystal Oni had already diverted power to the large Solaris Chain guns on the ship, now they spun around, tracking the crystal dagger as it turned around for another pass. The heavy turrets fired, sending streams of deadly golden energy into the ship... with little effect.

The ship slashed another ugly scar down the length of the Battlestar. Crystal Oni was puzzled. Nothing on the enemy ship. He diverted power to the massive Battle Razors on the bow, and fired those. Being an AI, the shots were fired at close enough range that the ship could not dodge them. Not that the crystal seemed to want to dodge. It bored right in, taking the Battle Razors and Solaris guns. A third scar ran down the Oblivion. Crystal Oni was not happy. This ship just wasn't playing by the rules, and so he decided to not play by them either. The quad array of Inferno Cannons woke and spat energy out at the ship. To everyone's surprise, the ship was stunned. Crystal Oni wasted no time in victory. The Battle Razors and Solaris' spoke once more, and this time the ship was getting torn apart. Solaris guns started to crack and splinter the armor, and once more the Battle Razors fired their devastating energy packets at the ship. They slammed into the ship, and more of it fell away.

Suddenly, with a piteous whine, the ship faded from view. All was quiet in Alpha Unknown once more.

"I apologize, my lord. I'm not sure what that was..."

The C'Tan, now almost completely pale, jerked in DarkStar's direction. *Miralukan. It was a Miralukan ship. But... they were wiped out centuries ago...*

DarkStar stared at his master. "Is it possible some escaped?"

The C'Tan shook. *No... It was we who killed them...*

DarkStar pondered for a moment. "Lord, with all due respect, if more ships like that one come back, we may not be able to protect you. Perhaps it is time for you to leave. I will send word back once these Miralukan are taken care of."

The Surgeon nodded stiffly and glided out to the docking bay. A small needle of some strange metal launched out, then flashed out of existence as a small hole was ripped in space/time in front of it. DarkStar watched the Master leave.

"Sir, a peice of that ship was found. We have it inside the detention block. Raf'el is watching over it."

"Good... I'll take a look myself." He looked out the port again, small crystals of liquid, gas, broken metal, and even some pieces of the ship glittered around. "Latter."

"As you wish."

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This is the real true story of rock and roll; it was not about anything more then, how to live your life, as a gangster, in sartorial splendor, and turning the world into a place where normality would never return again...- Malcolm McLaren