- Unknown Universe -
Ships bustled forth, warp drives bending space to their whims as they shot from star to star at many times the speed of light. Immense space stations hosted merchant conventions that determined the fate of hundreds of trade routes. A billion intelligent races thrived, an age of prosperity having bloomed from the carcasses of a thousand wars. Scientific research was shooting forward, discovering new ways to travel, to communicate, and to explore the many nooks and crannies of the universe itself. This post-scarcity society had advanced beyond what could be recognized as human culture, as all the essentials for life could be produced and delivered to everyone at practically no cost. There were no true poor, there was no hunger, and almost all diseases had been eliminated. Trade was focused on delivering luxury commodities, on improving people's lives for a bit of money. It was what many would call a utopia, it's greatest problem being overpopulation.
The Anti-Spiral saw all of this. Or rather, it sensed it. The life force of these beings spread throughout this universe like a fungus, the last remaining disease. A viral infection that couldn't be controlled, too absorbed in their own thoughts to realize the peril they brought. Too arrogant to face the consequences of their actions, these tiny creatures could hardly be considered sentient. They were mere insects, a plague of locusts, eating and spreading and not dying nearly fast enough. But that was what it was here to do, after all. It would cleans this entire universe, annihilate all life as the universe was brought back into balance.
Slowly, an immense black shape moved through the blackness of space. A hand of twisting, unnatural black energies. It's fingers were pillars, thousands of lightyears wide, as they slowly surrounded one of this universe's many galaxies. Traveling at a million times the speed of light, he grasped the galaxy in one hand. He could feel the panic, tiny dots of it as the most advanced scientists suddenly realized that they were enclosed in a wall of unbudging energy. The quick death of the space ships, their warp drives carrying them straight into the infinite density of the Anti-Spiral's body as they were instantly turned to dust. And as he closed his fingers, he could feel the despair spreading from planet to planet, as a billion inhabited worlds looked upon their doom. The last flings of hope, desperate plans doomed to fail from the moment they were enacted. Blasts of energy diffusing harmlessly against his fingers, escape attempts brought to nothing as he enclosed them in a pocket dimension of his own creation.
It took only ten minutes, in total. And in those ten minutes, he inflicted absolute despair upon every race intelligent enough to realize the fate that had befallen them. And as finally his hand clasped down, the last remnants of this galaxy were crushed. The remaining energy was absorbed into his body, erasing any trace of these lifeforms that might have remained. But more life still remained, as the many other inhabited galaxies began their own plans of escape. With a thought, it appeared before the next galaxy. And as their weapons were unleashed upon him, as their ships fled for safety, as their warping technology sought to bring them to safety, he merely reached out. They were mere insects before him, waiting for the boot to fall as they scraped away at his sole with their tiny pincers. And as he once more crushed this galaxy, he felt no mercy, no pity, no remorse. It was the fate of all intelligent life to be annihilated or suppressed, this was the way it had to be. And within a matter of minutes, all that remained was dust.
But there was still life left in this universe...
((Note: This is not to be taken as threat introduction. Nobody here will be fighting the Anti-Spiral head-on. This is just to set the mood.))
- Lost Worlds Space, Planet Halcyon -
Times had been tough in the Lost Worlds. This universe had been specifically selected from millions of uninhabited universes for being as far away from the Anti-Spiral as possible. The many factions involved in it's initial formation had combined their technology to create a series of portals capable of transporting entire planets. A total of 15 separate planets now orbited an artificial sun, their pre-calculated orbits having minimal impact on one another. This plan had of course had devastating effects on the temperature and environment of many of these planets, but even the most severe cases were able to maintain their status as a habitable planet. Halcyon was one such a case, having been turned into a frozen tundra, covered in sheets of ice a dozen kilometers thick. However, genetically modified plantlife had taken hold on this seemingly doomed worlds, and attempts to terraform it to a more pleasant state even now continued.
Of course, those aboard the Saint-Germain Castle were exposed to a far more enjoyable climate. The cold was kept out, and high-powered heating system kept the air temperature constant at approximately 15 degrees Celsius. This was still a bit colder than some would like, but most of the facility's energy was spent maintaining and charging the many high-powered mechs that had been imported to it. While the Lost Worlds Alliance wasn't composed of warrior worlds, many powerful fighters had joined their cause, a surprising number of which utilized giant robots to face their opponents. The Saint-Germain Castly had been stationed on Halcyon, the world with the largest orbit, in order to function as an outpost ready to face any invading force. This would be the first line of defence against the Anti-Spiral if they were to attack, and potentially the last, as the worlds behind it were mostly dedicated to agriculture and science.
While no such attack was expected, all mecha pilots were kept here on standby. It had been promised that soon a new teleporter system would allow them to go on break to other worlds, they were stuck on this frozen wasteland for now. Most of them would be gathered in the cafeterias of this strange island fortress. All they had to amuse themselves was conversation, or asking the staff just how this castle (and island) had been placed on Halcyon. Unfortunately, they seemed about as clueless on the matter as the pilots themselves.
Soon, the sattelites placed in orbit around Halcyon would detect the incoming Anti-Spiral threat. All of those present would be called to action immediately to risk their lives for the continued survival of the many species on the worlds behind them. And while they were each both skilled and powerful, there was no telling if all of them would make it back alive. But for now, there was peace. For just a moment, they were able to get to know each other before the attack.
- Lost Worlds Space, Planet Meridia -
Long rows of corn moved softly back and forth in the breeze. A golden sea of waving grass stretches out into infinity, the distant silhouette of one of the many massive farming robots on the horizon. The scene was dominated by a large farmhouse, looking no more advanced than such buildings looked a few hundred years ago. Contrasting it's rustic charm was a silver space ship parked diagonally behind it, in one of the few open places remaining around the farmhouse. The insignia of the Lost Worlds Alliance was emblazoned on it's side, carrying the three stripes representing the military branch of the LWA. Normally rare on agriculture worlds, the appearance of the military vehicle had caused some unrest in the surrounding small settlements.
Within, several of the more capable members of the LWA military were clustered around what appeared to be a corpse. They had been called here after a brief Level 3 emergency call had been transmitted from this location. That meant that one or more individuals had been killed, and more victims were expected. It was the highest level of emergency signal most civilians were able to broadcast. Of course this squad had been rapidly deployed to the scene, but what they found was rather baffling. A single corpse could be found in the center of the house, and it was covered in a strange red fungus. Tiny little stalks had emerged from the bipedal alien's body, reaching out into the air. But while this farmhouse was registered as containing a family of five, no other corpses or life signs had been found. Not even an infra-red scan of the area had turned up anything, indicating that the others were also dead.
They would have to figure out what had happened here and how to fix it, because it was clear that something had gone horribly wrong. And although they weren't aware of it yet, potentially the fate of the entire LWA depended on their actions here.
