Termina,The rebel planet

The ship was 2 kilometers long, standing 300 meters tall—almost entirely rectangular, with propellants scattered across its structure, The star that comformed the System of Termina made the ship shine, it's materials were clear, it was deeply conformed of nanometals, capable of sustaining such large monument, it was divided in 3 sectors, the larger being the the tail descending in height consecutively leaving the head as the most small part of the entire ship

It was clear it wasn't only metal protecting the thing, with a good look at it anyone could see the atomic shield formed around it, having small, fleeting glimpses of life every now and then

Ulysses didn't even have time to think before a communication came through.

"Captain Lazko Termina speaking, from the Horus-005. This is our first interaction with the ship "Bayv" in the name of Termina. State your reason for entering our aerospace."

Ulysses immediately knew they weren't joking. Maybe it was the dozens of cannons pointed at him, or the sharp edge in the Captain's voice—but silence wasn't an option.

"Master, if your intention is to remain alive, follow my words and access the communications."

"Can't you tell them yourself?"

"They always demand to speak to the captain, not the AI."

"Shit..."

After a brief and nervous exchange with the AI, Ulysses learned how to open the channel—and a few basic sentences.

"Captain of the Bayv speaking"

"Good to meet you, Captain. May I ask why a personal ship with no registered mission has approached our planet?"

"My name is Ulysses Antares. As a survivor of the lost colony Antares, I request asylum and the right to be treated as a refugee."

He simply repeated what the AI told him, praying it would lower the tension in the other captain's voice. Minutes of silence followed—agonizing ones—until the weapons aimed at his ship slowly powered down. He exhaled, relieved, just before Lazko spoke again.

"I'm sorry, did you say Antares? That colony doesn't appear in our system."

"It's outside the borders. About seven parsecs from here."

"Hold on. Yes, confirmed. We received a small portion of imports from that colony some time ago. My apologies for the confusion."

"Tell me again, why is the reason your planet got destroyed?"

"An angel attack."

The transmission cut off abruptly. Static filled the cockpit, the silence heavier than steel. Ulysses braced for the worst.

Then, in a tense voice:

"Was the angel defeated?"

"Yes. A Hexar named Wester killed it, apparently. I barely escaped."

"Wester... of the Knights of Inciras. Yes. He patrols this sector. All right, prepare your ship for inspection. We'll speak face to face."

The transmission ended.

As the Horus approached, the AI guided Ulysses through the basic controls, correcting every mistake, explaining every input. Ten minutes later, a docking tunnel connected the two ships.

"Let's hope for the best."

"Indeed. Termina isn't the best planet, but given your circumstances, it was necessary to end up here."

"Wait... what do you mean it's not the best—"

The door opened.

Six soldiers stood at attention. Their helmets were featureless, covered by a single black crystal where a face should be. Their armor wasn't top-tier—fully armored, yes, but it left parts exposed, revealing the tight mesh of nanofibers beneath.

They all carried the same weapon: a long metal staff with three glowing white mouths aimed directly at Ulysses.

Behind them, a man stood taller than the rest—black pants, an 8-button coat, gloves, and multiple badges on the left side of his chest. He was young, black-haired, and had falcon-like eyes that analyzed every inch of the ship.

The soldiers looked unsettled when they saw Ulysses wearing the armor. He saw their nervous glances, their unease—but they followed protocol and began their inspection.

"I didn't know Antares was protected by a Hexar. Was the angel really that strong? the Captain asked, his voice carrying disbelief at the idea of a Bearer claiming to be a survivor."

"This isn't my armor. It's complicated. I took it from a real Bearer."

"Then that makes you one. By the stars... look at you. That armor's older than this planet. I'm sorry, but... by the few laws this chaotic void has, we can't let you stay."

"Wait, what? Why not? I'm not a threat."

Lazko burst out laughing—loud, cold, and unsettling. It made Ulysses tense.

"Forgive me, kid. Even if you don't want it, you are a Hexar. You are the weapon. And right now, Termina's having issues with its "lord." We're on the edge of a civil war. A Hexar would only make things worse."

"I didn't realize things were that... intense."

"Everything here is intense, this cold, dying galaxy isn't meant for humans to leave in peace"

A soldier returned, standing tall and signaling with his weapon.

"N-nothing found, sir! T-the Hexar's ship is clean!"

Ulysses noticed his fear. The way the soldier kept glancing at him—it was as if he knew what Ulysses could become.

"Listen, kid. Like I said, you're not welcome here. But about nine parsecs away, there's an expedition. They're asking for any help they can get."

"What kind of expedition?"

"An excavation. Dead planet. Artifacts from some extinct civilization. I don't know the details—news is expensive out here—but I've heard they're having security issues. Go there. Earn some money. And get the hell out of this sector."

Ulysses didn't respond.

The Captain handed him a card confirming he'd passed inspection—useful to avoid future checks. Twenty minutes later, the Horus disappeared from view.

"I... I'm surrounded by invisible ships, aren't I?"

"Yes, sir. There are six around you. All cloaked from the human eye."

"Ugh. This place feels cursed. Let's hope we never come back. Set course for the coordinates the captain gave us."

"As you wish, Master."

The ship began to move.

Ulysses looked at the planet one last time. It was massive—at least eight times larger than Antares. But where Antares had been green and vibrant, with rivers and forests, Termina was nothing but a dusty rock.

Just a grain of sand.

"We're about to jump. Six parsecs to go, heading toward Gloria Station."