Deep Space. The Inner Vault of the Deep Core.Time: 114 Hours Post-Ambush.The Root-Ship moved forward through the dim gray illumination that followed the Guardian's gate until it reached the hidden core of the ancient Progenitor Empire.The Outer Perimeter functioned like a graveyard while the Inner Vault served as a mausoleum which exceeded all known dimensions. The area lacked any visible stars. The entire sector of space became enclosed through a gigantic hollow sphere which contained dark matter that extended beyond its boundaries to create internal gravitational forces.The center of the empty space held a dynamic maze that contained floating Progenitor vaults. The geometric platforms and obsidian spires moved through a complex slow orbit while only the hard-light bridges provided their connections.Vael announced his findings about the energy signature of the Quiet Engine as his hands glowed while he navigated the conductive sap at the navigation console.Ethan ordered the holo

Deep Space. The Inner Vault of the Deep Core.Time: 115 Hours Post-Ambush.The silence was absolute.For the first time since the Pale Rider’s formatting wave had swept across the stars, the galactic network of the faction of Order was completely, profoundly dead. The massive, invisible shockwave of the Quiet Engine had ripped through the cosmos, erasing the flawless mathematical grid that linked every Harvester drone, dreadnought, and World-Builder.The central obsidian spire had lost all of its intense light.Ethan knelt upon the raised dark matter platform with his forehead touching the dead Progenitor console. He struggled to breathe as he tried to take his next breath. He dedicated all his chaotic frequency power to the machine in memory of Vael. His body felt entirely vacant.The comms transmitted his mother's voice when she said, "Elena to Ethan." She spoke breathlessly yet her voice conveyed extreme happiness. "The sentinels just dropped!" Every single automated defense in the

Deep Space. Aboard the Ravager Dreadnought Scrap Iron.Time: 130 Hours Post-Ambush.The hold of the Scrap Iron was a wretched, stifling image of life.The thousands of uninfected Sanctuary refugees were crowded shoulder-to-shoulder on the rusted iron decking. Avian and reptilian biologicals, who had formerly been wrapped in pure silks, and who were now huddled together under flickering emergency lights, and shivering in the cold, promethium-scented air of a pirate dreadnought. The Ravagers were positioned on the catwalks, and their kinetic shotguns were in an awkward position between their hips. They were murders and vultures, and they had no equipment whatsoever to be saviors.Ethan sat on a pile of empty munitions crates, in the corner of the huge hold.He looked down at his naked breast. The black neutronium crater was simply, horribly quiet. The bright trinity of red, blue and emerald plasma that had characterized his existence was gone, and only the jagged, spiderwebbed scars of

Deep Space. The Sol System. Earth, Sector Seven Underground.Time: 148 Hours Post-Ambush.The underground tunnels of Sector Seven served as a remarkable achievement of human design which was created through extreme human need.Over the last ten years, the resistance built a comprehensive bunker system which unified the old metropolitan subway lines, sewer mains, and subterranean parking garages.The walls of the building gained protection through dark matter plating which scavengers had brought. The space contained recycled air, body odor, and gun oil's distinctive sharp odor.The location served as the most secure area which existed on Earth. The area experienced total disorder at that moment.The Scrap Iron and the Ravager fleet successfully established control by directing Sanctuary refugees through the tunnels. The cultural clash created an instant loud and disruptive sound. The avian and reptilian biologicals experienced terror because they had grown accustomed to their world, whi

Deep Space. The Sol System. Seven Underground, Earth.Time: 152 Hours Post-Ambush.Medical bay in the Sector Seven bunker was a swirl of earth and Progenitor healing salves.Elena was lying on a metal cot, and the human medic tightly bound her broken and bruised ribs. Warlord Krax was idly mending a significant wound on his biological arm with a frightened Sanctuary avian across the room, seemingly more irritated by the time of it than the pain of being swatted through concrete by a monstrous worm.Ethan stood in the middle of the two worlds' leadership in the command hub.After a decade of apocalyptic trench warfare, Commander Vance was no stranger to the battle, and he was standing beside the council members of the Sanctuary, all of them avian and reptilian. Ethan was standing between them. The canvas jacket was open, exposing a black neutronium crater in his chest. It was no longer a frightening empty space filled with chaotic plasma. It vibrated in a resonant, incandescent, steady