The Grit of Aethelburg VI got into everything.It coated the pitted ferrocrete walls of observation post Delta -7 ,settled on the already stained uniform of Junior Lieutenant Valreius, and hazed the perpetually ochre sky outside of narrow slit of armoured glass .Valreius stared out at the landscape - kilometers of rust -coloured dust flat punctuated by the skeletal silhouettes of ore extractors chewing listlessly at the planet's meagre offerings
This,he thought ,the familiar bitterness coiling in his gut ,is the glorious Terran Imperium' edge. A forgotten rock of fringe of nowhere, M2-E . The rank felt like insult ,barely a junior Lieutenant in the old Terran stratification ,it signifies the second rung of command ladder that streched twelve imposing tiers towards the imperium high command and 'E' designation marked him as lowest sub -rank within M2- the absolute bottom of commisoned officership. Struck here,babysitting automated sesmic sensors,felt like delebrate slight for someone his lineage and potential . His family back on terra moved in circles of power that couldn't conceive posting like Aethelburg VI , but politics were fickle, rival insidious ,and this remote world was his current reality
A low hum vibrated through the post's deck plating - less from staion's machinery and more thrum of his own body's enhanced systems, the baseline resonance of a cultivator at peak kinetic stage of star Ascension . This second major tier in cultivation path , leapes beyond mere 'initiate ' but still world away from' star -forged' .who could walk vaccum unprotected .peak kinetics like him product of costly genetic tailoring and implanted bio- regulators , possessed sense sharped enough to track incoming artillery by sound alone ,reflexes that could make frantic firefights like slw motion battles the raw physical strength to tear metals,and ability to project kinetic force- enough enough to shoved armoured troopers off their feet or erect shimmering ,
temporary sheilds against incoming fire .his ability felt ludricously overpowered for scaring off the local rock -lizards thar occasionally blundered into the perimeter fences . He carved a real challenge, a crucible to fo forge his power ,a stepping stone toward distant peak of cultivation towards real dominance .Ruling the imperium was means but star ascension that was the end
Suddenly ,the sesmic sensor console flared red ,shrieking the proximity alert overide. Not the dulm trenir of mining operations ,but the sharp focused signatures of multiple atmospheric entities ,fast and aggresive . Before Valreius cold even query the main ops centre, the horizon liy up with silent , acitnic flashes . Second later, the shockwave hit delta- 7 rattling the small outposts like child toy .
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the structure .the light flickered,died, then flared backe under emergency power , casting the cramped space in a hellish red glow. Dust showered from ceil vents. Valreius barely registered jolts his kinetic sense flared giving him split- second premonition as the ceiling buckled.He threw up a shimmering hand, a licalized kinetic barrier reflecting a chunk of falling ferrocrete tha would have crushed a normal man . Through the window slit , he saw a pillar of smoke rising from the direction of main settlement and Garrision HQ , miles away .
" Report !" Valerius snapped into comm unit , his voice devoid of any panic sharpened by adrenaline and cold clarity
his cultivation discipline provided .static answer .He tried again.Nothing .
Orbital comms jammed or destroyed .local comms network compromised .his mind raced , processing implication with trained speed. Atmospheric entry - not imperium standard profiles , agressive pattern. this wasn't rock -lizard .
Another blast , closed this time ,sent a trenir through his boots . He enhanced his vison ,peering through dust cloaked window slit .Rough looking figures in mismatched atmod were advancing from drpships bearing crude , unfamiliar insignia .pirates?or scout for something worse ?
The reinforced door to delta -7 hissed open, and sergeant Grok stumbled in ,his grizzled face pale under layer of fresh dust, his standard - issue pulse rifle held ready. Lieutenant HQ is..... It's gone ! Took a direct hit from orbit ! Captian Evan .... confirmed KIA !"
Valerius absorbed the information instantly .captain Evan M4- B . A mid tier officer , but the highest ranking on Aethelburg VI .which meant ...
Grok looked at Valreius ,confusion and fear warring in his eyes "Sir?,orders? ,The sergeant was a veteran of twenty years like more combat experience than Valreius had years of life , but chain of command was absolute even if ranking officer was fresh - faced M2 .
Valerius met Grok gaze , his own eye ice - cold . He drew himself up , towards the subtle aura of kinetic energy coalescing around him, an almost palpable pressure in the small room made the sergeant unconsciously straighten up." Secure the post , Sergeant .Report localdamage and any functioning communication relays ".
Just the a box transmission crackled through the emergency receiver fragmented but audible ." ....raiders hit the processing plant ... miners trapped in mining sector 7 evacuation point compromise ... requesting immediate support ..."
Simultaneously another aleer flashed on tactical display Valerius had activated - automated defence systems pinging intruders approaching Relay sector 2 ,location of planetary backup orbital comms relay.wuthout relay they were truly cutt off , unable to report the attack or call for the fleet support this world desparetly needed .
Mining Sector 7: civilian miners , soft targets , strategically irrevalent beyond their ore qoutas
Relay Sector 2 : The viral link to the imperium essential for reinforcements and, more importantly, for reporting success or failure .His sucess.
Grok looked torn ." Sir ? The miners in Mining Sector -7 ...."
Valerius made calculation in less than heartbeat . To he miners were expendable . The relay was critical . His path was critical.
"Ignore Miners Sector -7," valerius commanded , his voice cutting like drumsteel ." All remaining garrison units are to convege on Realy sector -2 .Secure the orbital comms relay at any cost .we reestablish the contact with High Command ; that is our priority ."
Grok flinched as if struck ." But Sir! The colonists.... Women ,children ... We can't just -"
Valerius took a step closer , his kinetic aura flaring slightly , making the air crackle .he didn't raise his voice ." The imperium required sacrifice , sergeant .Their sacrifice ensure our survival and preservation of imperial assets .My orders are clear .Assemble a small team .we move to relay sector -2 now ".He turned grabing his own helmet and pulse rifle , the polished insignia of Terran imperium glittering faintly in red emergency light .
He could almost feel the weight of miners live seetling onto scale balanced against his ambition .It was an easy choice .His ascent had begun ,paved , as it always would be , with the necessary sacrifice