Nobuo 'Tatsu' Takayama's Story

The UDW fleet answered this failed assault to bring down the shield with an absolutely vicious counter-response. Each vessel began to issue the full force of its cyber-warfare capabilities into play, jamming and redirecting missiles with ghost signatures, direct hacks, pulses of ionic blasts to generate small EMP fields, and stealth functions. Shields flared as they diffused and reflected laser impacts, deflecting the beams of energy against fields engineered to handle at least half of their own primary Abyss weapons. Abysses flashed off, sending beams of hellish destruction to kill hundreds of fighters and dozens of smaller Cybran vessels with single bolts, the lighter Abysses coming into play striking the black hole shells a moment before the deadly rounds could emit their payloads. The seventeen capital ships maneuvered smoothly, their motions trading hits off of shields, diffusing the overall punishment each received, screening the small SEC vessels from the most brutal of the fire.

On each bridge, its crew lay on their crash couches, eyes closed with looks of hard concentration on their faces, deep in the neural link between the ships' AIs. The fusion allowed for the simply near perfect storm of destruction and coordination between the the hypercarriers and the dreadnaught, human ingenuity and instinct merging with the hypercomputational power and perception of time of the AIs.

Additionally, a new factor came into play. Nearby Cybran vessels were subjected to titanic spectral hammerings, fighters literally torn apart, corvettes, frigates, destroyers, battleships, and carriers splitting hull plates and suffering massive internal explosions, the invisible forces of the Agents aboard each vessel sealed within their Magnification Chambers, linked through the telepaths in their ranks to coordinate in the psionic method their bridge staff were communing. The chambers acted as superconductors on their phantom minds, turning a simple hammerblow into a titan's fist, a electrical arc into an ionic storm, a fireball into a powerful multi-ton explosion. Those aboard the hypercarriers engaged the enemy fleet with sheer focus, adding to the crippling fire of the titanic Abysses, the missiles screaming through space in their thousands, point defense clusters spitting fire and fury with cyclonic rates of fire, the other assorted weaponry of the UDW fleet locking on and unleash a ravenous storm of precision, high power fire into the Cybran ranks, reaping a toll that was simply horrific in its extremity.

While those psionics aboard the Kronos worked in tandem, grasping and defusing the black hole shells that evaded destruction, remotely rewiring the devices and hurling them into the face of the Mega-Dreadnaught, the revised devices instead generating powerful twisting fields of gravity to rip into and through the shield guarding the titan from their fury, attempting to wrest the armor from the behemoth so that it could experience the pain of the directed fury of the fleet.

The scene of Rain's fight was appalling, brilliant plates of shielding flaring into existence to ward off the directed fire while thousands of lances of light, the burning stars of hyperkinetic slugs, the comet tails of missiles and torpedoes, and the menacing, invisible assault of its psionics performed one simple act.

Killing Cybran ships in the hundreds, and then the thousands.

The Taiyou had not finished their assault, not even close. Though the Cybrans were reeling yet managed to hold from the initial attack, the Taiyou continued to press their assault, while Fighters and bombers continued to bob and weave through the heavy ordinance.

There was a massive fluctuation in space and time, a sudden wormhole torn through the very fabric of space which belched light, and jetted out ionized gasses. A massive 250 Kilometer long cylindrical shaped vessel slung fourth roughly 7 AU from the Superdreadnought the Cybrans were fielding.

"Hyperspace jump complete, initializing VX transformation." A Taiyou commander reported as Admiral Yamamoto nodded silently. "Initialize VX Transformation and report back to me." Yamamoto called out.

Slowly the ship began to transform, the top portion of the cylindrical hull opened up and retracted, two massive rings unfurling like a butterfly's ring and assembling. Both rings fed into an elongated yet slender barrel, which too began to unfurl in brilliant and shimmering flashes of green. Extending an additional 50km to bring the massive Taiyou weapon to a staggering 300 Kilometers in length from bow to stern.

It was at this point Taiyou units began to withdraw from their attack runs. To the Cybrans it seemed they had managed to Deter the Taiyou units as they turned tail and began to withdraw.

"Attention all friendlies, this is Admiral Yamamoto, you are ordered to withdraw to a minimum safe distance of 5 Astronomical Units from the Cybran Battlestation."

The Massive craft continued to unfurl, while two massive fusion reactors deployed along the length of the vessel.

"Admiral." A lieutenant called out.

"Hadron Cannon is initializing primary countdown to deployment." He reported, and a clock flickered on the screen.

"15:00"

"Hadron Cannon countdown T-Minus Fifteen minutes..." The PA Announced.

Admiral Teller watched as things began to spiral out of control. He knew he could have more reinforcements on the way or he could call in his special reserve units but instead he waited and watched everything unfold slowly he turned ot his science officer. " Get me the damage out puts that are expected from this attack."

Suddenly he read a simple message from the president. He didn't like it but he had his orders. "Open a comm to all the forces in this system." He said almost quietly he knew Holiday was receiving live updates but also that she had another idea in mind for this outcome but he doubted this would ever work no one was going to listen to him it was too late.


"ATTENTION ALL FORCES IN THE AREA THIS IS ADMIRAL CHARLES TELLER REQUESTING A CEASEFIRE OF ALL FORCES IN THE SYSTEM."

He made his message clear but he sighed. "I want a coordinated Emergency FTL jump planned if that weapon goes off is going to go off. Put the fleet on orders to only shoot cybran vessels that are posing an clear and present danger until I receive further orders from back home."

The Cybran Military machine was only just starting to warm up. Entire Regiments loaded on the teleporters, starting to beam off to the ships of the enemy while the Commander of the Ultra Dreadnought, the HDS Resnao grunted, watching the attack on his ship. He swallowed before standing up, "Release the wonder weapon."

His officers nodded and with a few seconds, a massive hole started to form on the Resnao's front armour, the giant hole revealing one of the Wonder weapons designed back on Casgrax II. It was mainly just a targeting system with advanced systems while the main cannon was on a planet in a far solar system. The Commander nodded with a smile, "Let them have it." The massive ships groaned under the tension before unleashing another wave of it's shells.

It was after the shells had fired that the SEC commander had tried to call for a ceasefire. The Cybran Commander little more than laughed, before he stopped, "Don't tell them to fire until I say. How long will the shells take in Hyperspace?"

"About three minutes at most, but it will take a further to for the station to be ready."

"Tell them to get ready then."

"Sir."

Given the apparent lack of any effort to stop Tahir from destroying the Ultra Dreadnaught - or the command station aboard it - the efforts had likely been successful and the Cybran Commander would likely find that not only was the targeting system of the 'wonder weapon' unable to open due to the now damaged and destroyed weapon systems, most of the ship's commands would be unresponsive now on account of being nothing more than a mangled mess of sparking wire and folded metal. Transmissions would likely no longer be working either, as the command station would no longer be in any state of functionability with its systems disrupted. Again since none had seemingly made any effort to stop Tahir from destroying the ship, it was likely that the shields had been taken out by his attacks, leaving it vulnerable on the exterior to enemy fire, but the real damage came from the detonation of the weapons aboard it that tore through the interior with relentless fury.

With the targeting system of the cannon non-functional the ship would be unable to direct the distant weapon - and their own ship was likely dead in the water, if not outright destroyed from the detonation of their own weapons aboard it.

With that matter completed - if the ship was still marginally intact - Tahir turned his attentions on the Commander himself now who had apparently disregarded his earlier appearance while he systemically destroyed the command station along with the rest of the ship. His golden eyes flicked to the side before a hail of broken metal and heavy panels from the destroyed command station were sent hurtling through the air to batter and skewer the man.

The UDW fleet's reaping was simply horrific, there was no other word for the wholesale massacre the combined might of the sixteen hypercruisers, the thousands of fighters, and the deadly dreadnaught. For every pilot they lost, they harvested entire squadrons of Cybran fighters, for every breach in a shield and minor hit on the heavy Luminaran hull plates, they slaughtered multiple escorts, destroyers, and smaller capitals. Illuminated more brightly than a sun by the sheer weight of Abyss fire, plasma lancer bolts, missile and torpedo detonations, and the cataclysmic eruption of enemy ships, the battlegroup was a terrifying sight to behold, harbingers of death that wheeled in tight formations, still trading positions to maximize the life of shields and keeping their monstrous hulls between the ocean of the enemy and the ships of their allies.

The Agency support was beginning to show on the Cybran forces, as suddenly the returned weapons of the enemy began to blister and peel the surface of the Mega Dreadnaught, wounding the massive beast and allowing the ships they operated from to add their fire to the mass, ripping deep gouges in the surface of the titanic ship. Onboard, however, though faces were set grim, orders were being conveyed.

Sever power to the capacitors on the shields. Align for maximum coverage against the Taiyou weapon being deployed, then all available power to secondary, tertiary, and quadratic capacitors. Countdown synced, on T-1 all power to shields and damage control. Agents, keep these ships as much together as you can.

Killigan grimaced in his reclined position as the acknowledgements worked back to him over the neural link, sending a wide band transmission back to the Taiyou flagship. His image would appear if they could receive, the digital image showing utter calm as he answered the warning. "Apologies Admiral Yamamoto, but due to the circumstances, we will not leave the SEC fleet in the danger zone. You may fire when ready. Godspeed, and hit these bastards."

After that transmission had launched, he turned to the SEC ships, launching a second, whisker beam transmission. "SEC commander, SEC commander, if you can't run by the time-up on the Taiyou countdown, get as close to our backs as you can. Shifting into maximum coverage, heavy fire coming shortly."

Once that message had been sent, the Admiral triggered his own fleetwide comms. "Ladies and Gentleman of the Dark Rain. Why am I still seeing garbage in this sector of space?"

The battlegroup's fire doubled in intensity.

Admiral Teller watched the battle as he listened to the comm from the UDW commander. "Copy that Moving my fleet behind you now." Teller said as the ships changed their vector to move behind the massive hypercrusiers.

But as the ships fell into position the Cybrans had begun to teleport and chaos seemed to erupt on the bridge. "Admiral I am getting a flood of reports of enemy boarding it looks like teleports sir." An officer said in a concerned tone.

"Seal the bridge and scramble the marines and security drones activate a fleet wide alert to move into internal defense procedures." He said pausing to turn to his science officer. "I need a solution on the double we need to stop these guys.

He said as the officer began to furiously crunch some numbers. "Well sir I have one idea it won't keep them from coming but it could trap them here given enough time to tinker with the ESF I could manipulate it to block teleports on but blocking their teleportation off is relatively simple and I can activate immediately."

"Do it and get to it get the other science officers working on quick fixes too." He said as he was startled by gunfire on the bridge as troops opened fire on teleporting Cybrans defensive turrets on the ceiling deployed and tore into any unregistered beings or drones.
Aboard other ships a similar process was happening as a combination of Turrets, combat security droids and armored marines began to defend the ships. Most used stun weapons to keep from damaging the ships but when necessary they didn't hesitate to use deadly force.

The massive construct had finished it's massive deployment. Now resembling a butterfly with it's wings outstretched, the Cannon bore aim and aligned itself onto the crippled station. Yamamoto was watching from the bridge of the Nagato in silence, with Shimizu quietly standing in the background, and Yuriko aboard the Mastermind.

"Admiral, the cannon has finished unfurling and is ready to fire." The Captain of the Taiyou's Hadron Cannon reported, and the Admiral nodded.

It was then Shimizu stepped forward. "Open a wide band channel to the Cybrans."

Yamamoto deferred to the Prince, and stepped aside as the young Taiyou half breed stepped forward.

"People of the Cybran Nation, your deaths are meaningless and your fighting will only end in more suffering. I implore you to challenge your leaders to surrender and open up the channels to end this war. The Taiyou Empire is prepared to prosecute this war all the way to your capital. But the choice on the enduring suffering of your people lies on you. I call to surrender, I call upon Cybran Citizens to push their government to end this fighting." Shimizu said.

"We will halt our advance only for a time while you consider your options. Should you challenge us and continue to fight us, we will prevail, Backed up by a Coalition comprising of all the Militaries in this Galaxy. The choice is simple, Surrender now, with your nation intact, or be completely and utterly destroyed."

Shimizu terminated the link, and turned to Yamamoto. "We hold here. Should they refuse, then go fourth and exterminate them with my father's blessing."

He then opened a channel to Dark Rain and the SEC.

"Allied forces, this is Crown Prince Shimizu Takayama, I applaud your committment thus far. However should the Cybrans refuse surrender, I call upon the combined forces of our Armies, to move forward, and slay this beast from it's home world. A Coalition of the Willing that will not stand for rogue nations, I await your blessing."

A small caravan of armored vehicles bearing diplomatic plates and flags pulled up to the palace. As they arrived a large group exited mostly in suits but two armed guards could be seen moving a handcuffed figure.

Ahead of them Lindsey Holiday walked into the building she pondered sending a representative but decided that she needed to conduct this business personally. Plus she didn't trust Luke even if he was here as a prisoner there were too many things that could go wrong too many unknowns. She pondered if they might capture or kill her but pushed the thought aside if they did this it would only serve to anger the international community plus she had nothing herself to hold against the Taiyou. With the recent war with the cybrans she felt this was the ideal time for the SEC to hold a parlay, but more importantly she wanted to get these external crisis under control so she could focus on the looming internal problems of the nation.

Cybran Fleet Hioka (Old Order)
COS Malleo Ferreo

The Great Leader of the Old Order, Cybrax Ritter grunted, speaking to the comms of his fleet as they arrived within the Chemias system. With a smile, they unleashed fighters and smaller destreoyers, moving in to start attacking the new order. He opened up the comms links to all the Nations in the area, "This is the Great leader of the True Cybran Nation, the bringer of all death and destruction, Dear the Cybran mistakes, We demand to have our control back from where it once was. This war has been raging for thousands of years, we will end this here and now."

He then turned to look at the SEC, Dark Rain and the Taiyou. He grinned softly, psuhing his finger to his lips, "You have fired on the wrong people, but we thank you for that as those losses will help the True Cybrans Win this war, not the traitors who formed a new order and a new way of thinking." He cut off the lines and order the firing command, the entire Old Order fleet of over three thousand ships opened fire on everyone.

Cybran Combined Fleet,
Capital ship,
HDS Resnao

The massed group of commanders onboard the ships watched in horror as the Old Cybran Order returned. The looked at each other then to the screens. "Attack the Old Order, get every ship on the assault, but not on the old aggressors, keep a number of the heavier ships back with shields up to full power. Get the particle ships up on all Capital ships, nothing will get through."

They then turned to face the commanders of the Taiyou, SEC, and Dark Rain with a swallow, "Do you now understand who the real enemy of this universe is? They will kill everything in their path. They are the ones who attacked your planet of Terra, they are the ones who have ruined everything just to attack anything they can. This is why we are trying to defend you."

As still no one it would seem had made any effort to stop Tahir from destroying the Ultra Dreadnaught or from killing the Supreme Commander, it seemed unlikely that any had survived aboard it. As the explosions swept through and engulfed its interior in its near entirety, Tahir too was swallowed up by the inferno.

---

Back aboard the Taiyou command ship Tahir re-opened his eyes as the golden hue of his tattoos faded back into inactivity.

"It is done," he explained simply to Shimizu.

With the interior of the Cybran vessel suffering from explosion after explosion and the shields taken down, it was defenseless from the onslaught of attacks that Dark Rain had flung back at it. The Ultra Dreadnaught would likely pose no further threat as it was likely scattered into pieces to become dangerous projectiles to neighboring Cybran vessels in the vicinity of its destruction.

As Tahir took note of the transmissions coming through, he briefly closed his eyes. To the Taiyou, SEC and Dark Rain commanders he projected the image that would no doubt haunt his own mind for months to come. It was an image that spoke of the atrocities of humanity. It was the image of the entirety of the Cybran Command station cackling maniacally as millions around them died with the spark of war.

'Know our enemy. The Cybran race shares a sickness of the mind. They are one and the same, save for in name.'

Admiral Teller listened to the transmissions that went out. He paused before he sent out a transmission to all forces addressing both cybran factions. "At this point in time we have reason to be a war with both the old and new factions. If you had wanted to explain this earlier when we attempted the blockade was initiated that should have been done."

"As of now our peace offer has expired and we shall be working with the Taiyou in their advancement. "

After Teller spoke he transmitted a secure message to both the UDW and the Taiyou. Attention allied forces the SEC fleet will be leaving this system to regroup and avoid the effects of the Hydron Cannon. After the attack in this system we will advance for further attacks. Charles Teller Admiral SEC combined fleet.

After the message was sent the majority of both fleets began to make FTL jumps to the edge of the system and hopefully avoid the blast while in FLT.

Bouncing a signal around the wreckage of the Ultra Dreadnaught, the Kronos hailed the Taiyou fleet, establishing a connection with the SEC flagship at the same time. Killigan's image held a stony face, expression schooled. He had heard the transmission, felt the call of the psionic's projection across the black expanse of space.

"This is Admiral Killigan of the UDW. Shimizu, you have our blessing, and our aid in this. Blow these motherfuckers to hell."

As one, the formation banked towards the inner system, each vessel aligning bows with the planet. Secondary and tertiary weapons engaged the Cybran fleets with catastrophic accuracy, Agency psionics rending, tearing and blasting every ship that drew within range of their deadly minds, but the choice of maneuver was something far more deadly. The name of the taskforce was Reaper.

The name of the fleet was Memento Mori.

<Fire on the planets at will.>

Sixteen primary weapon Abysses belched directed nuclear fury once, then again, and again, and again. And kept firing, the monstrous bolts holding the power of the fists of gods as they slammed down on planetary shields, striking the same precise target over and over. And when they would broke through, slammed into the planets themselves, ripping enormous chunks of mass free and sending them crashing through atmosphere, pounding still until they would breach the crust, to rend into the mantle of the worlds, sending the life's blood of habitable planets boiling from the broken shell of life giving eggs.

And then they would shift to the next. And then next after that. Only when the Hadron Cannon might belch its own fire would the hammering cease, the mammoth vessels locking down power to deflect the titanic power, unwilling to give an inch of ground to the Cybran aggressors who had aroused the fury of the UDWs most deadly fleet.

Yamamoto and Shimizu made a face. The Cybrans had not heeded the Taiyou's call to unconditional surrender.

The Prince heaved an exasperated sigh, and then he nodded to Yamamoto. "Admiral, you may fire when ready."

The Admiral nodded, and then he opened up the comm link.

"Commander, this is Admiral Yamamoto, input your firing codes, The Prince and I will be transmitting our firing codes." He said, and Shimizu slowly approached the console, entering his code while Yamamoto entered his own code, then both codes were transmitted to the Hadron Cannon.

"Make your Target the Cybran Command ship." Yamamoto ordered, and both Taiyou stood back while the massive installation bore it's main gun onto the center of the Cybran Fleet.

"Firing Solution complete, sighting is good!"

"Release valves open! Helium pressures are at critical!"

"Main and Auxiliary show clear!"

A lieutenant then turned to face the Admiral.

"The Hadron Cannon stands ready."

Shimizu's face darkened, and then he nodded.

"Fire."

What came to follow could be described as unremarkable, particles being accelerated to unimaginable speeds within the loop like structures of the 'Wings' of the proverbial butterfly.

Magnets along the cannon's length began to energize, and the whole assembly began to spin in asynchronous directions. There would be a massive energy spike that radiated across the formation of allied ships, immediately followed by a thin tendril of orange light, which streaked across the black backdrop of space.

The bolt of orange light would move through the formation of Cybran ships, until it impacted the HDS Resnao

Again there was nothing, but only for a second.

There was a reaction on the subatomic level, particles colliding with matter, energy causing a cascading chain reaction across both shields and armor, unless there was some way to prevent the particle collisions from taking place as a result of the impact, no shield would be capable of withstanding this sort of reaction.

It was nothing short of sudden.

Whether it started in the shields or the armor no one would know, but a Black hole would form suddenly and abruptly either in the ship, or right next to it, drawing the ship, anything within 25 Astronomical units, and surrounding celestial bodies into it's gravity well.

The Resnao would likely instantly be smashed into a singularity as it was drawn into the anomaly, with gravity so powerful not even light could escape. It would take minutes, maybe hours as time and space itself rippled and dilated, drawing any Allied stragglers, Cybran and Old Order ships, and even the Chemias System itself into it's gaping maw, and obliterating it with the violent ejection of ionized energy and matter as a whole new universe, for a split second was born right in the middle of the Cybran formation. A proverbial 'Big Bang' ignited by this impressive Taiyou weapon.

Shimizu and Yamamoto watched from the safety of the System's fringes.

"We have confirmed space-time destabilization, and a stable black hole."

Shimizu nodded. "When the black Hole collapses, we'll set course for the next Cybran system."

HDS Loyalist,
Casgrax system

"Sir, are you sure about this? This could cause the end of it all. The entire Cybran Nation as a whole."

"Yes, I'm sure." Called the Cybran Emperor as he stroked his chalky white beard. His eyes grey and dull. He took to the video feed of the destruction of the Chemias system. He was given a nod and started to speak softly and softly in English, "Dear the Taiyou, SEC and all other Attackers to the Cybran Nation. This is the Cybran Emperor, Titus Ramsao. I wish to offer an act of peace so we can explain our actions within one of your systems. I ask you in good will not to destroy anything more as enough lives have been lost today. I am willing to offer most of the Cybran weaponry to you in order to start a new age of peace, where our Nations can trade and work together for the greater good of this universe. I have spoke to our Allies in order to pay for the Damages on the Planet of Terra."

Shimizu scowled as the message rang on the speakers.

"Dear the Taiyou, SEC and all other Attackers to the Cybran Nation. This is the Cybran Emperor, Titus Ramsao. I wish to offer an act of peace so we can explain our actions within one of your systems. I ask you in good will not to destroy anything more as enough lives have been lost today. I am willing to offer most of the Cybran weaponry to you in order to start a new age of peace, where our Nations can trade and work together for the greater good of this universe. I have spoke to our Allies in order to pay for the Damages on the Planet of Terra."

Shimizu looked up, and then he turned to Yamamoto. "Sometimes you have to show that you're willing to play the hard games. I will accept nothing short of an unconditional surrender." He said, and then he turned to the comm channel.

"Open a reply." He ordered, and the Lieutenant nodded.

"Attention Emperor Titus Ramsao, this is Crown Prince Shimizu Takayama, of the Taiyou Empire of Greater Niihama. This is my final call for total and unconditional surrender. You will have all your Military units stand down and lay down their arms, you will be permitted to board this ship, with your cabinet and unarmed to discuss and formalize this surrender. If you refuse, Hostilities will continue until we're dictating peace terms from the ruins of your home world."

Shimizu turned to Yamamoto.

"Prepare to continue the offensive. I fear this is merely a stalling tactic." He said, and the Admiral nodded.

Titus swallowed softly, looking at the pic-display then to his commanders nodding softly, "Stand down. Get my high council here. We will go to them."

He swallowed again as the message came through the speakers,

"Attention Emperor Titus Ramsao, this is Crown Prince Shimizu Takayama, of the Taiyou Empire of Greater Niihama. This is my final call for total and unconditional surrender. You will have all your Military units stand down and lay down their arms, you will be permitted to board this ship, with your cabinet and unarmed to discuss and formalize this surrender. If you refuse, Hostilities will continue until we're dictating peace terms from the ruins of your home world."

He swallowed and nodded, turning slowly to move towards the landing bays, his walking cane striking off. The metal flooring.

Chemias System

The entire warfleet scattered, moving away from the black hole before it could suck any of them in. They had stopped firing, and the dreadnoughts started to level out, their weapons pulling off but their defences still fully operational.

Engines strained against the force of the black hole, offensive and defensive systems offline to maximize the power of the UDW vessels gravity drives. Caught at the edge of the pull, the ships put on a titanic struggle, as courses were plot for a short range TD hop.

Imperceptibly, the fabric of space shifted slightly, the Kronos lagging as long as possible for the SEC ships to slip through the tunnel field before it too, entered, simply relinquishing the opposing pull against the tremendous gravity field to soar into the gap.

And mere seconds later, the two fleets vomited from the subspace to the rear of the Taiyou fleet. Shields flickered as they came back online, seconds later gun turrets began tracking once more. The battered vessels held blast scars and pockmarks in their heavy armor, but otherwise were unscathed, disengaging the formation with the SEC.

Hailing the Taiyou flagship, the projection from Killigan this time was a real-time feed, his face tired from the mental demands of the neural overlink.

"That's some weapon you have there, Admiral. If we're even on opposite sides, remind me to never let that thing get near anything important." The UDW admiral cracked a faint smile, his expression hardening as he glanced off camera at a readout. "Update on the status of our Cybran friends?"

Shimizu silently looked out the bridge window as the transmissions began to come in from the UDW.

The Prince chuckled slightly, before he stepped forward to reply, the Admiral remaining silent to allow his superior to speak.

"It's a weapon of last resort, something that assures total destruction-- Our Cybran Friends? Well. They're going to surrender to the Taiyou Empire, Unconditionally. This fight was over before it even really began, I'll need someone with some political clout to come aboard, so we can negotiate the terms of surrender with the Cybran Emperor."

Amidst the desolated star system of destruction, despair, and woe, Death was the only victor. Thanatos lifted his infamous scythe and swept it over the cosmos. Every spirit that drifted over the black waters of void looked upon the Harvester with conceded acceptance. They reached for him like sheep for their shepherd - a guide in the darkness. He was Peace. He was Rest. He was shattered dreams and soothed pain.

He was Death.

Thanatos stretched out his bony hand. His scythe lay suspended in his palm as he spun it in a violent vortex. A bridge between the realms of Life and Death formed within the maelstrom. As the lost departed souls tumbled into the astral well, they fell into the realm of Purgatory where the righteous shall ascend to Paradise and the wicked to the land of wailing and gnashing of teeth.