Ch. 3 Preparedness

In the bustling armory of the medium-sized Imperial war vessel, the "Emblematic Approach," a large Aelorian figure stood amidst the array of advanced weaponry and specialized equipment. This was Niroth Solren, a renowned Thrasher hailing from the remote reaches of Aelorian space. His presence in the armory was not a strange sight, as Niroth was known to be keenly versed in most equipment issued to the Thrashers and acted as his squad's gear engineer.

Niroth's plumage bore hues of deep sapphire and rich emerald, a striking contrast against the subdued lighting of the armory. His eyes, a sharp golden hue, gleamed with a focused intensity as he meticulously made small adjustments to his gear. A suit of advanced EVA armor, notably bulkier than the ones given to normal guards, stood at the ready. Its design showcased a rugged and functional aesthetic, adorned with intricate engravings that told tales of numerous battles and trials.

The advanced EVA suit, a marvel of Aelorian engineering, came equipped with a range of enhancements. Besides the normal environmental protection EVA suits afford to their wearer, his suit had a thick armored plating, ensuring extra protection against the hazards of unfamiliar worlds, while integrated strength and endurance augmentations further elevated Niroth's already impressive physical abilities. Bionic implants adorned his arms and legs, providing him with enhanced reflexes and heightened targeting accuracy.

As Niroth assessed the suit's controls and diagnostics, his bionic ocular implant projected a holographic display detailing the Emblematic Approach's layout and status. Sensations of the ship's vibrations coursed through the floor, followed by a large sinking feeling, a familiar sensation that told Niroth that they had just left Ember Space. His fingers danced across the controls, fine-tuning settings and confirming the preparedness of his equipment for the forthcoming mission.

The emblem etched onto his armor depicted a stylized representation of a lunar eclipse, identifying him as a member of the Thrashers. It served as a badge of distinction, signifying his role as a protector of explorers and researchers, ensuring their safety as they ventured into uncharted realms.

Niroth paused for a moment, staring at his badge, reminded of all he had done to serve the empire and to stand proudly next to his "brothers" in the squad. He thought back to his home world, Cypress, a small, frigid world that had no rotation; it was locked in place with its almost equally-sized moon in a static dance that caused only one side of it to be habitable. Niroth had given his life to the empire in all but death. He was just a starving chick of seven cycles on the streets of Cypress's smaller towns when he was approached by then-Officer Zephyr Aelar.

Shaking the memories from his mind, he thought to himself, "Stay focused, prepper; you're on a mission." He started the process of adorning the advanced EVA suit.

Niroth's thoughts shifted to the recording from the "Celestial Wanderer," the unsettling footage shared by the pampered chicks at the Galactic Codex of Historiography. A gargantuan-class lifeform was one thing, easily blasted from orbit; however, the disturbing transmission sent after the unprepared historian was cause for great concern. Some malevolent or highly intelligent creature on this border world is either mimicking the dead historian or Aerin somehow survived the destruction of his ship. One could deduce the higher-ups beliefs from their sending a warship and not a rescue vessel.

Niroth grabbed a black and blue harness, strapping it over his EVA suit chest, then, with deft, familiar precision, grabbed an array of equipment for himself. He grabbed three sentry robots, no bigger than his hand, in the shape of a metal disk, slipping each into a pouch designed for them on his rig. He did the same with three different metal cylinders of different sizes, each was a different detonation charge, each going in perfectly. A plate-like disc that he attached to the back of his harness, a stasis emitter, and lastly, a heavy Aurum beam-rifle.

As a Thrasher, his responsibilities extended beyond safeguarding researchers from indigenous creatures; his mandate encompassed the safeguarding of all Aelorian kin, regardless of the sacrifices, a fact he couldn't help be reminded of when missions were on the edge of beginning.

With one final calibration of his Suit, Niroth stood upright, the buzz of the armory's energy conduits blending harmoniously with the determined rhythm of his pulse.

Through the heads-up display of Niroth's bionic ocular implant, a communication icon blinked, indicating an incoming message. As he activated the transmission, a familiar voice echoed in his earpiece.

Prepper, are you done with your namesake yet?" the voice quipped.

Niroth couldn't help but smile beneath his helmet as he recognized the voice of his squad's commander, Joran Vyldari. Joran was a seasoned Thrasher, known for his pragmatic approach to missions and his level-headed leadership. His plumage was a blend of deep obsidian and smoky gray, complemented by a distinct streak of silver feathers that ran down the length of his right arm.

"Yeah, I've got everything set, Joran," Niroth responded, his voice laced with a mix of respect and camaraderie. "Just giving the old girl a final check before we head down."

Joran's voice held a note of amusement. "Good, good. Also, does it get tiring being so meticulous?" Joran said it with a smile on his face. Before Niroth had time to respond, he heard Joran speak to someone else nearby, then turn back to the call and say, "Alright, hurry your ass up, Prepper. Head to the hangar; we're almost ready to embark. Those pampered historians from the Codex are starting to get antsy to set foot on solid ground."

Niroth couldn't help but chuckle at Joran's description of the Galactic Codex historians. They were indeed a different breed—some stuffy historians who spend their rotations deep in some codex repository, while others are curious and naive to the dangers around them and only focus on the pursuit of knowledge rather than the unpredictable landscapes of alien planets. "Understood, on my way."

Joran's leadership style was known not only for its effectiveness and strategic thinking but also for its unwavering loyalty to his fellow Thrashers. However, his loyalty often didn't extend as far to those who weren't part of their elite group. There had been instances when he showed little mercy to non-Thrashers who threatened the safety of their missions.

As Niroth left the armory and made his way through the ship's corridors, he couldn't help but think about the mission ahead. The enigmatic border world of Paradisium G-148 gave him a moment of pause, even for a seasoned thrasher like himself. The prospect of encountering the monstrous lifeform, or worse, whatever malevolent intelligence lurked on the planet, was both thrilling and unnerving.

His strides carried him toward the hangar bay, where the rest of his squad was gathering. As he stepped into the vast chamber, he saw his fellow Thrashers prepping their equipment, their advanced EVA suits gleaming under the overhead lights. The sense of unity and purpose among his squadmates was palpable.

Throughout the hanger bay, large black and gold troop transport ships sit waiting to be piloted; these ships are known as Pinfeathers, well-armored and lightly armed transports that Niroth had, during a particularly dangerous mission in the past, piloted himself.

As Niroth approached his huddled squad, his visor linked with them, displaying their IDs, designated roles, and current status.

-Commander Joran Vyldari (Commander):

Role: Squad Commander

Appearance: Joran possesses plumage of deep obsidian and smoky gray, standing at 7'6 like the other thrashers, dwarfing the normal guard and historians alike. He wears a suit of advanced EVA armor, bulkier than normal, adorned with intricate engravings and an emblem depicting a lunar eclipse. He carries a heavy Aurum beam-rifle.

Status: "OKAY"

-Niroth Solren (Prepper):

Role: Gear Engineer

Appearance: Niroth's plumage showcases hues of deep sapphire and rich emerald, standing at 7'4. With additional bionic implants compared to the rest of the squad. He wears a suit of advanced EVA armor, bulkier than normal, adorned with intricate engravings and an emblem depicting a lunar eclipse.

Status: "OKAY"

-Kessa Talrin (Medic):

Role: Squad Medic

Appearance: Kessa's plumage is a blend of soft lavender and brown. Standing at 7'0, she carries with her a modified sentry robot that is directly connected to her suit, allowing for real-time health reads from the entire squad. Her EVA suit is equipped with medical tools and devices to provide immediate care in the field. She carries a heavy Aurum beam-rifle.

Status: "OKAY"

-Thayen Ralok (Demo):

Role: Demolitions Expert

Appearance: Thayen's plumage boasts fiery shades of crimson and amber, standing at 7'8. His large frame, supported by his bionically increased bone density, allows him to carry an Aurum timed heavy grenade launcher. Along with a plethora of other explosive devices. His EVA suit, being even bulkier than his other squadmates, is designed to withstand repeated close proximity to explosive and concussive forces.

Status: "OKAY"

Lorin Vossin (Pathfinder):

Role: Reconnaissance Specialist

Appearance: Lorin's plumage is a harmonious blend of cerulean blue and cool silver, standing at 7'4. Her slender frame, even for her height, lends itself to her fitting her role as the squad's reconnaissance specialist. Her EVA suit is equipped with advanced scanning and stealth capabilities, and she carries an Aurum Beam-caster on her hip.

Status: "OKAY"

Joran stood at the center of the group, his presence commanding respect. Niroth approached, giving a nod of acknowledgment. "Preppers done preppin, everyone else ready?" Joran asked.

Lorin chimed "Done ages ago."

Thayen simply nodded to Joran

"we'll have to run medi-diagnostics on the way but yeah pretty much." Kessa added.

Joran's silver-streaked feathers ruffled slightly as he nodded back. "Good. I dont think I need to say this but, we're heading into the unknown, Keep your wits about you and watch each other's backs."

in almost unison, they all replied "Aye Sir"

The Thrashers assembled near their designated Pinfeather transport, their advanced EVA armor gleaming under the overhead lights. The historians from the Galactic Codex of Historiography had also gathered wearing the more civilian-focused version of the EVA suit, some of them discussing their expectations and research notes. As the squad and the historians prepared to board the Pinfeather, a slight pause occurred when one of the historians, a young Aelorian with wide eyes and a nervous demeanor, hesitated for a moment.

The historian's gaze drifted toward the towering Thayen. The size and imposing presence of these Aelorian warriors were quite a contrast to the more common scholarly types the historians were accustomed to. The historian's uncertainty was palpable, but after a deep breath and a nod from Thayen himself, urging the historian aboard, they mustered their courage and stepped forward into the transport.

The interior of the Pinfeather had a utilitarian design focused on functionality rather than luxury. The seating area for the crew was equipped with sturdy seats and safety harnesses, providing a secure environment for the journey ahead. The squad of Thrashers settled into their seats, taking up a large amount of space for there only being five of them.

The historians took their places along the opposite wall, some still exchanging whispers about the upcoming mission while others double-checked their equipment.

The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and apprehension, with the weight of the unknown bearing down on everyone present.

As the last of the crew settled into their seats, the lights in the transport dimmed slightly, and a holographic interface activated in front of each passenger. The image of the pilot materialized in the air before them, their visors linked to the ship's communication systems.

"Greetings, this is your pilot Bartan speaking." The pilot's voice echoed through the cabin. "We're about to depart for Paradisium G-148's northernmost pole, where getting unusual readings similar to those captured in the sent recording have been detected. Before we depart, please access your briefing documents on your HUDs."

With that, a series of holographic panels appeared before the passengers, displaying the mission objectives, the known characteristics of the planet, and the speculated potential threat. Niroth accessed his document, quickly scanning the information. It was a mix of what the Codex historians had uncovered and the additional information gathered by the Thrashers already planetside.

The pilot's image in front of them continued, "Our goal is to investigate the source of these readings and determine the nature of the phenomena observed. It's crucial that we work together to gather as much information as possible. We'll be coordinating with other squads on different parts of the planet. Remember, safety is a priority, and we will follow the emergency protocols closely. We'll be approaching the northernmost pole within the hour. Stay vigilant, and if any issues arise during the mission, contact me immediately, as I will not be on the ground with you."

With that, the pilot's holographic image disappeared, and the cabin lights brightened again. The quiet murmurs of conversation resumed, mixed with the sound of equipment being checked and rechecked. The Pinfeather's engines rumbled to life, and the vessel began its journey toward Paradisium G-148's northern pole, where the mysteries of the enigmatic world awaited.