"Acknowledged, Caprica." replied the Khroniktan ship. "Organizing landing party now. We will be there shortly."
"Sire," a Rokin knelt before the Priest-King who watched the planet from the rippling visage of a scrying mirror. "We have our coordinates. The party awaits your arrival in the hangar."
"Thank you,
marna" he nodded as he waved a hand over the mirror, causing it to return to its silver hue.
Moments later a blinding light erupted in the Delphi Town Square. It shined with a golden radiance as the fabric of time and space severed and folded. Shadows fled from the arcane energy as it spilled from the portal that materialized in the square. A rhythmic rumble resonated like a beating drum. Enormous silhouettes erected from the center of the light and marched lock step into the open. They towered above the humans while clad in thick metallic battle suits. Titanic gauntlets gripped fierce blast rifles that hummed on stand-by.
Ten
Khroniktan marines emerged from the portal in a column formation. The piercing azure eyes of their helmets scanned the immediate vicinity with a vast array of sensors – both physical and astral.
“Plate is clean.” Echoed the marine captain into his comm unit. “I repeat: the plate is clean. Bring in Paladin One. Assume formation!” he barked. The marines immediately broke from the columns and formed two long parallel lines projecting from the portal.
“Lehuka nazeh makedat!” As one, the two lines pivoted inward and stood rigid with soldierly discipline.
“Ledaha!” The soldiers, in a robotic sync, braced the barrel of their blasters against their chests and cupped the butt on their gauntlets. A soldier at the end, bearing a red and yellow star on his chest, stepped into the aisle. He holstered his rifle and pivoted away from the portal. The officer’s helmet collapsed with a hiss of compressed air. Slitted yellow feline eyes stared at the scene before him, and at the crowd that had gathered to see this spectacle. His face bore a coat of fur that thickened in a long mane woven into dreadlocks. A large widened as he addressed the people in their native language.
“Presenting King Neodin Shadowslayer,” he began, “King of Arydia, High Priest of the Chosen, Head of the Grand Council, and Prophet of Leolik!” The officer pivoted to face the portal and lowered to one knee.
Two more figures emerged from the portal. They were clad in a suit of plate armor that glowed with a golden light. Crimson red cloaks flowed at their feet as they each erected a standard of a golden star on a red background. The Aryite Chosen marched lock-step until they reached the center of the aisle.
“Magtzeer!” They halted.
Another figure emerged from the portal. He was wrapped in long flowing robes that just barely covered the being’s clawed, paw-like bare feet. A long furred tail swayed along the ground. Short golden brown fur covered the being’s body large and muscled body. King Neodin Shadowslayer stood two heads above the other Aryites, and towered at twice the height of the Aschen. Like a shining waterfall, a golden brown mane surrounded a fierce yet noble feline-like face and flowed down his shoulders and back. Strands of silver and gray intertwined with the golden brown. His eyes shone like two stars that illuminated an aura of great wisdom, power, nobility, virtue, and honor. A massive broadsword, jagged and covered in glowing runes, rested in his paw-like hands. He gripped the hilt and held it like a cane with the point facing downward.
As he walked down the aisle between the columns, the Aryites lowered to their knees and bowed their heads in deep reverence to their King and High Priest. A powerful aura of tranquility flowed from him like a peaceful song among the spring breeze. He lifted his hand in a calm greeting as he smiled warmly at the crowd around him.
“Be at peace, Children of Man.” Neodin said with a voice that soothed even the farthest bystanders of the crowd. As he spoke, several hovercrafts formed from a golden crystalline substance materialized from the portal. “We have come under a banner of friendship and hospitality. We have seen your turmoil and seek to provide comfort and aid. Come! Bring us your weary, so we may feed them. Bring us your sick, maimed, and wounded, and let us heal them. Bring us your homeless, so we may clothe and minister to them. Let us break bread and fellowship, so both our futures may be brighter in the sight of Leolik.”
Several smaller creatures hobbled from the hovercrafts as they landed. They stood a few feet shorter than the humans with their backs hunched. Long beaks protruded from beneath linen hoods while talons clicked against the ground. The creatures cawed and squawked at the large arcane
golems that floated about, carrying heavy crates. Within moments the skeleton of a base camp took form. Tables and soup kitchens for food lines were set up directly from the hovercrafts, and portable medical tents were erected like the hairs on a cat’s back.