My name is Senai Kouri and I am not supposed to be talking to you.

-a childlike voice begins to speak full of fear as an angelic face comes into view blotched red from crying. Dirt and grime can be spotted on her little hands as she goes to wipe cascading tears away. Sniffling she continues her message in a near whisper leaning in so whoever is listening can hear her better.-

I never disobey my parents but I need your help. My home is being taken over by monsters. I know it sounds crazy but I am not lying. My family and friends of Halioux are being killed and I don’t know what to do!

-it is difficult to hear her since static occasionally interrupts the hologram-

The year is—

-A frightened female begins calling Senai’s name in the distance followed by a barrage of mechanical limbs scurrying upon the ground. Something else begins to speak, a terrifying voice but not something audible. It sounds as if some type of machine is--is screaming.-

No! Stay away from my mother!

-Senai has turned to face the creature but her hand has accidentally interrupted the view. Whatever is trying to capture them cannot be seen.-

Please hurry! I don—

-hologram message clicks off unexpectedly and her voice and face vanish-



Halioux – A dwarf planet compared closely to Pluto’s diameter but similar to Venus’ desert terrain. Very little light reflects on this bronze globe so daylight is rare. The people who inhabit this planet have evolved anatomy via night vision over a span of centuries, respectively not needing technology to see their surroundings. As for the appearance of Haliouxan’s they remain suited for the duration of their day. Rarely will an outsider have seen one of these people without slim armor. Most suspect that they look relatively human aside from a few modifications they have gained over time in order to survive their harsh planet.

A savage atmosphere awaits those who wish to traverse though it. Noxious gases and heavy pressure make breathing impossible and those who wander outside need helmets to breathe oxygen, which is a precious commodity. Chromium spire like buildings are sky high as these residents do not fear heights, and almost anything can be accessed by holographic computers. With the external weather conjuring dust storms and scorching heat most would rather stay safely indoors. Life here is strictly defensive though their militia is quite fierce. Little need is there to focus on civilian disputes since the wildlife is there to cause bigger issues instead.

The mass of Halioux is not something spectacular to gaze upon but there are a few locations worth visiting but they are very far away. Places that contain monstrous boulders with sparking streams of water flowing from the tops that trickle down onto pools of violet water. Such areas are resting places for those who need to escape the life of Halioux but the trek is dangerous and many do not return. Those who can afford them use small one seater space crafts for travel while the unlucky majority must walk for hours or even days. Some of the creatures dwelling around Halioux are tamable and can be used as transportation, however.

Life was harsh before the invasion but now that Necromissis have settled here everything that once was is in ruins. They have managed to transform a habitable desert wasteland into a decaying hold for unknown reasons. Perhaps they wished to start on such a small environment to test their readiness for a bigger prize but curiously they stayed. The people of Halioux must have captured their interest and they will not let them go. Many are being preserved while alterations are being procured. No one knows much about the mutants who prowl through the jagged land but they are menacing and no one dares to cross them.

Safely secured in an abandoned lab one of the humans who was being studied sleeps soundly. After a small group of Haliouxan’s raided the building combat ensued with no one, not even a Necromis, escaping the building alive. Many of the experiments were left and no one went back to see if anyone needed aid. There are many structures like this one empty and deserted holding valuable weapons and information for the taking. Bravery means death here and no one will rise against these foul monsters.

In high orbit over Halioux hung a large cruiser, a ship-of-the-line from a loose collection of allied systems in a sort of federation. Anthrous was this vessel's name, their mission was simple being to answer a distress call received back in home space some months prior. All of the crew had seen the message, and no one was quite keen on visiting the quarantined world, there was no documentation on why the dwarf planet had been sealed off, but that didn't matter, in fact the mystery only further fueled their paranoia. The objective was simple, send a small team of marines to locate the source of the signal, if there was to be anyone to save still remained to be seen.

Already prepared for launch was one of the marines, at the time his features were covered, dressed in full protective equipment. Even if they had very little information it was surmised that whatever was down planetside was anything but friendly, for sure didn't sound that way. On this one marine's shoulder was a small patch helping to signify his idenity "Invictus-4" Invictus being the name of his squad and of course four being his call sign. Four sat tight in a small personal transport, large enough for just one occupant, these were commonly used as for rapid deployments. Sky Crackers being the name, were heavily armored one-way ships designed to handle intense, high speed atmospheric entries, their namesake comes from the loud sonic boom that they produce while slashing through the air.

"Final role call gentlemen, mission starts soon and we're dropping in with style." One, the squad leader.

"Two is ready to roll."

"Three, I'm up for a little action."

Then it was his turn, "Four is here."

"Good that's everyone, in a minute here we'll have a go on launch. I just want to remind you guys that any contact with home is gonna be cut off down there. High levels of interference due to a passing solar storm is going to last for a month minimum. Again as a reminder, a shuttle will come to pick us, and any survivors at the designated point, at the end of the local week. Policy is strict, if you don't make it in time then you will be left for dead, and without a line to command... that wouldn't end well for anyone. Alright enough with this depressing shit, I will see you fine gentlemen on the ground. One out."

Four readied himself for take off, eyeing the on-board countdown within his helmet's visior. 10...9...8...6...7...6...5...4...3...2...1 Lights on. His head slammed back only somewhat cushioned by the padded seat. The academy prepared their recruits for high velocity deployment through special courses, just the actual experience was something else all together. Still the G-forces was almost enough to cause Four the blackout multiple times, although probably nothing fatal. To his sides of the crystal reinforced canopy, he saw the other three Sky Crackers followed the same flight path as his own, of course with a wide berth of space for error. That one dwarf planet was rapidly starting to look a lot less dwarfish, and before long the pierced through the upper atmosphere, Four clutched the safety railings to the front as he tried to deal with the newly found turbulence.

Unfortunately as a rookie he just didn't have the experience or tolerance to retain consciousness, before Four knew it blackness swallowed him whole.