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Tyrant and Tourist
Posted By: Nick Kang<nick_kang1337@yahoo.com>
Date: 20 October 2007, 1:21 am
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Tyrant and Tourist
The planet had been renowned for its sunsets. Trillions journeyed there every year, across the void of space and time, to witness just a single one. On no other known world was there such a display of natural beauty and even synthetic light presentations could not rival the grace and finesse of even the most dull sunsets. The sky would light orange as if aflame, and particles in the air would dance and intertwine to create swaths of color: blue, yellow, red, green. Pollutants on the planet had been outlawed, and it was a world of agriculture and plant study, where Mother Nature reigned supreme and the sunset was God.
How ironic it is, then, that it was during one of the planet's more fantastic sunsets that the stars had unleashed hell.
Veins of fire were carved through the dazzling sky as thousands of disfigured spacecraft punched through the atmosphere and plummeted past thin cloud layers in their race to reach the sun-goldened surface. The roiling report of anti-air batteries could be heard from everywhere on the planet, though it was too late by now and the operators knew that the only resistance they could offer would not stem the tide.
The first dispersal ship smashed through the canopy of a large forest exactly five minutes after entering the system, scarring the land with a rocky gash that stretched on for almost a kilometer. Unspeakably mutated creatures spilled from every crevice in its dented and cracked hull.
Areas of significant population were put under marshal law within minutes. Evacuation shuttles were grounded despite the panic and despair that roared through the civilian populace.
What few cities there were on this world were overflowing with the tourism industry, as that time of the year yielded the most scintillating sunsets and few wanted to pass up the chance to be there. For years after this particular planet's infestation, bureaucrats on a hundred worlds would argue and toss ideas about whether the Flood had planned the attack to coincide with this brief but intense population surge, but the debate would ultimately be ended by the conclusion that 'The parasite does not think, it just feeds.'
The future schedules of politicians were of little concern of the populace, though. The military ground forces were ill-equipped to repel a full-scale infestation attempt. Why would It come here? This was just a farming planet in the middle of a lifeless system. There was no strategic value in the location, and the Flood had no need for farming methods.
Security forces were no match for the Flood's onslaught a billion strong, civilian resistance even less so. An hour into the invasion, the aggressors' ranks had swelled by a hundred percent despite the casualties inflicted by the numerous last stands of soldiers on the ground.
One security officer gazed up into the deep orange sky during a hiatus in the fighting just in time to see the leviathan shape of a massive capital ship, sprawling with organic growths, drop into low orbit and begin an approach vector to the planet's surface. Not recklessly and with little regard save spreading its infection, but carefully and full of caution. 'Mantle's Strength,' he thought to himself, 'what has It sought to bring to this world? What could be held within this shell of a warship?' Though upon thinking this, a new wave of Flood combatants attacked his unit's position. He did not give it a second thought and was killed and assimilated soon after.
In another hour the order was passed down to activate the failsafe devices. Thermonuclear explosions pinpricked the surface of the world as entire territories were engulfed. Smoke filled the skies and massive amounts of dust were thrown into the atmosphere, along with pieces of once-majestic cities and the bodies of billions. Forests were incinerated, fields of crops wiped out of peaceful existence. When the last cataclysm had ceased, the world was silent. Thirteen percent of its surface was blackened and dead.
It was at this time, when the defenses had been swept aside and less than half a million lifeforms survived in active resistance, that the capital ship touched down on a barren ridge overlooking a vast wheat field. The sun was still setting and cast a golden hue over the land.
The cargo bay door of the vessel hummed open with unnatural speed for its large size, and from the ship's belly came a single Flood Combatant, limping along on a shattered leg. At its side was a twisted, pulsing mass of intertwined lifeforms and calcium growths, coagulated body fluids and bloated flesh. It had grown around a hovering cargo dolly, and so was suspended a meter off the rocky ground. It moved forward several meters, then stopped. Three dozen dead eyes turned in lifeless sockets to survey the sky, where thick clouds of dust and smoke now obscured the dying sunset.
How unfortunate. See how their Pyrrhic attempts at evolutionary standstill have scorched the sky of this world. I have gleaned much knowledge of the fantastical dusks on this planet, crossed the gauntlet of space to witness it. I would have preferred that this journey not been in vain.
The Combatant stood dumbly without response, lifeless eyes swiveling in their gaunt sockets. A faint gurgling issued from its chest cavity as the mind-being within shifted position.
No matter. This is a large world, stocked full of beings. I sense every one of them. The pup asleep in the nest awaiting mother's milk. The strong alpha male hunting for the betterment of the pack. All are tied to my thoughts. This is a good planet. I would very much enjoy residing here for some time. And what of the atmosphere? Well, I would like the chance to see the sunset at least once during my stay here. It will take some time for the sediments and particles to settle out of the sky, and then I can enjoy the vista. Until then I am content to wait. What are a few mere months when I shall have eternity in which to travel once I have completed my work in this galaxy? I shall wait, then, and perhaps grow a bit while I am here.
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