Episode 17 No Man is An Island

The adjutant, standing nearby, couldn't help but voice his concern, his voice tinged with unease. "How long are you going to let him endure, general?"

Private Jax Brynn stood stoically in the pouring acid rain, his back soaked and sizzling from the corrosive downpour. 

His superiors, high-ranking officials of Planet Atuj'R, watched from a distance as he endured the punishment. The acid rain burned through the fabric of his uniform and etched painful welts on his exposed skin.

Schwap! Schwap! Schwap!

That was the sound that filled his ears as each whip struck his back.

Jax's jaw clenched as he continued to bear the punishment without a word. However, his eyes were pinned on the general beyond the glass window, his eyes cold and determined. 

The general turned to the adjutant, "Until he learns his place."

The superiors watched in silence as the whipping continued, the acid rain hissing and sizzling as it fell upon the soldier's open wounds. It was a brutal reminder of the unforgiving nature of their military hierarchy and the consequences of insubordination on Planet Atuj'R.

Planet Atuj'R was indeed a democratic planet, but there was an obvious hierarchy. Those born with green eyes were considered the ruling class, for their ancestry hailed from a regal blood. They were regarded as the most intelligent and privileged individuals in society. Their position afforded them opportunities and privileges that were beyond the reach of the majority.

Beneath the green-eyed elites were the Alunis, a subservient class with distinct red eyes. The term "Alunis" carried a derogatory connotation, often translating to "lower than the floor." These individuals possessed enhanced senses and physical strength, making them valuable assets in military endeavors. However, despite their physical capabilities, they were treated as inferiors by the ruling class.

This rigid social hierarchy on Planet Atuj'R highlighted the stark divide between the two classes. The planet's democratic facade concealed the deeper inequalities that persisted based on genetics and ancestry.

General Jax Brynn, now the ruler of Planet Atuj'R, stared at his reflection in the mirror. His red eyes gazed back at him. From the days of enduring punishment under acid rain as a private in the army to rising to the position of a general and eventually seizing power in the coup, Jax had come a long way.

As its new military ruler, he was now in a position of absolute authority, with no one to challenge his command. The power he had once coveted was now firmly in his grasp, and he could shape the destiny of his planet as he saw fit.

With his newfound power and authority, General Jax Brynn was determined to make significant changes on Atuj'R. However, whether those changes would be for the better or worse remained to be seen.

General Jax Brynn looked at his device and swiped through pictures and articles of Queen Reina. So far, she had welcomed over 5,000 refugees into Proxima. It had started with a small cargo vessel, but now his people were pouring into her planet in droves.

He read an article about Queen Reina's medical aid to Quadrant 04 Planet Helios, where she had played a pivotal role in curing the deadly Scourge.

He did not like this situation at all.

There was a growing possibility that Helios might offer her support in the future. Jax Brynn had initially intended to seize his people from her with a few stern "reminders" to assert his dominance. However, it appeared that she was gearing up for a full-scale war.

A smirk formed on his lips as he patted toner on his face.

He couldn't be certain whether this new Queen possessed the same ruthlessness as her predecessor, but the prospect of seizing control of all of Proxima was an enticing one for him.

General Jax Brynn arrived at the expansive spaceport, where his formidable space armada lay in wait like a metallic behemoth bristling with lethal weaponry. His fleet consisted of sleek and imposing star cruisers, their hulls gleaming with a dark, obsidian sheen. Arcane energy cores hummed with power, casting an eerie azure glow across the hangar as they prepared for the imminent Warp Jump.

The armada was a symphony of military marvels, each vessel armed with plasma disruptors, graviton cannons, and antimatter missiles. Interceptor fighters, resembling predatory birds of prey, were neatly docked in their bays, ready to swarm in defense or offense as commanded.

With a sense of authority and anticipation, General Jax Brynn issued the directive, "Prepare for Warp Jump towards Quadrant 04," his voice echoing through the massive hangar, setting the gears of his formidable fleet into motion.

Time to learn your place, little Queen.