The sky over Thal'morek Prime darkened as the fleet assembled. Massive citadels detached from their orbital docks, their armored hulls splintering the twin suns' light into fractured rainbows.
These weren't just ships, they were cities in the void, each one a floating fortress carrying thousands of souls and enough firepower to level a continent.
Smaller ships flew between the citadels like guards around a king. Frigates and destroyers kept their guns quiet, but their crews were ready to use them.
Troop carriers lined up, set to teleport soldiers to the ground. Support ships carried everything, food, tools, medicine, and gear to build shelters. The fleet wasn't just ready for war; it was prepared to rebuild a world.
At the center of the formation, the portal array activated. Magic-Engineers had worked for hours recalibrating the massive portals, adjusting its resonance frequencies to bridge the vast distance to Earth. The space between the pylons shimmered; space bent as the portal stabilized into a vortex of light and impossible geometry.
On observation platforms throughout the city, citizens watched. Some recorded the event for posterity. Others simply stood in silence. The Aegis Phalanx didn't move for minor threats. When they moved, it was because something had gone catastrophically wrong on a planet.
The first citadel slid into the portal. The second moved in right behind it, then the third. Ship after ship, the fleet vanished through the gateway, heading for a world they'd only seen from a distance, one they'd never set foot on until now.
Earth was about to receive reinforcements. Whether its people wanted it or not.
The sky tore apart like a gaping wound, and the first citadel surged through the portal. The massive fortress drifted forward, clearing space for the second, then the third. One by one, all citadels materialized above the planet, with eight of them being in the middle of the formation.
Smaller ships went through after the citadels, frigates, destroyers, and troop carriers fanning out to form defensive formations around each floating stronghold.
The portal flickered once, then collapsed as all vessels went to the other side. Above Earth, the fleet hovered like a new constellation, one that scared many.
Inside the command citadel, the eight Legates gathered in the command room. Holographic displays showed real-time data streams from across the planet.
Monster concentrations. Population densities. Portal clusters. And somewhere in that chaos they were searching for the anomaly, the Progenitor, who was likely growing stronger with each passing hour.
"All citadels have arrived successfully, Legate Commander." A technician's voice came through the chamber's speakers. "The fleet integrity is at one hundred percent. Awaiting deployment orders."
Legate Kael'vorr Vex stood at the center of the circle.
"Confirmed," he said. "Wait for our orders before starting the global positioning protocols. We are going to need coverage across every major population center, but there is still stuff we need to discuss."
"The natives are scattered in pockets while that thing grows fat on their fear." Legate Grul'ka Hek's halberd rested against her shoulder. "We should strike the anomaly now, before it reaches our level."
"We don't have an exact location for that thing," Xyl'thran Kor said as his four eyes scanned the projections.
Legate Vex'iris Nul looked at them. "I can send my swarms to map the population centers and monster concentrations. The anomaly is masksing its presence well based on the reports. it might be a good idea, but it will need some time to yield results."
"Time the natives don't have," Legate Grul'ka said while looking at the casualty projections scrolling past. "Every hour we debate, hundreds die."
"Which is precisely why we must deploy immediately to population centers. Legate Lyra'xis Sola said. "Our mission isn't to hunt the Progenitor first; it's to empower the survivors to defend themselves. It would make no sense for us to kill the anomaly and then leave the population to die."
She paused. "The Doctrine is clear about this, we must first focus on creating safe zones. We distribute resources. We train and strengthen the population. That is the goal of the allied worlds, and we all know there is no way to stop this monster from spreading its influence." She paused. "Even if we find that wretched thing, and we kill it, the anomaly will have for sure created more of its kind, and if the natives aren't able to defend themselves against them it will be all for naught."
"And what of the anomaly itself?" Legate Rhy'vok Gret said. "Do we simply allow it to grow while we play the human trainer? I say we should just blast this entire region and be done with it."
"Are you really suggesting of killing millions of people of the few that already remain?"
The situation started to become heated, to the point it warranted the others' intervention.
"We won't do anything of the sort," Legate Kael'vorr said. "But what Legate Rhy'vok Gret said is true. We must first find the abberration fast, and the best thing would be to do it through a combination of our and the natives' efforts." he paused.
"The question before us isn't whether to do it. It's assured we need to strike while we can now that the anomaly is weak. The creature has been said to be in this region, but that's beside the point; his presence already created ripples we need to fix. There are too many portals to fallen worlds opened because of the ripples in mana he is causing. What we need to be careful about is a decapitation strike. A failed one would alert the anomaly and waste resources better spent strengthening the native population, as per the Doctrine. If it succeeds, we must make sure we purge all his followers, or we would have solved nothing."
"That's why I was saying that strengthening the population would be the optimal course,"Legate Lyra'xis Sola said.
"Logistical projections show optimal deployment patterns. We have eighty citadels and seven continents to help, plus the anomaly to find here. It's clear what we have to do."
"The political situation is less clear," she added. "The human population centers aren't distributed evenly. Alia holds hundreds of millions. Auralia several millions. Do we assign equal force, or do we prioritize by population density? "
"I would suggest by threat assessment," Legate Xyl'thran said. "I've found a large concentration of portals near human centers, while the remaining cases are located in this area where the anomaly stays. I think it would be best to deploy resources in proportion to the projected rates of monster emergence and the number of portals."
"It coincides with our goal to keep the anomaly in check. I approve." One by one they gave their blessing.
Legate Zha'tan Voss spoke for the first time. "The Doctrine requires us to prevent another incident like Xylos." He paused.
"One citadel needs to stay put here and focus only on finding this… Progenitor... Who's stepping up to hold the line?"
The chamber fell silent. Every Legate understood the implication. Whoever stayed near the anomaly's suspected location would face the greatest danger and carry the greatest responsibility.
At the rate at which anomalies grew, and at the rate at which this particular one was growing, they would have to face a monster of their same level.
"My forces are the best suited—" Legate Grul'ka said.
"No," Legate Kael'vorr said. "Your cohorts are needed where the monster density is highest. Eastern Alia. The human population there is massive and completely unprepared to face so many portals."
"Then who?" Legate Rhy'vok's question remained unanswered.
Legate Lyra'xis stepped forward. "I'll stay in the anomaly's zone. This is where it started, which means the survivors here have seen the worst of it. My job is to empower people, and that's exactly what I'll do. I will set up training, build a defensive network, and keep an eye on the anomaly at the same time. Let me turn this place into a stronghold, not just a battlefield."
"You would be exposed, and you are not the most suitable one to fight such a monster. You are the weakest among us."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not planning on joining the fight directly, but to rather use proxies among the natives."
"Were you thinking about the human male talked about in the reports?"
"Yes." The legate said. "I will make sure he will do good."
She paused. "The anomaly will seek to grow stronger not only by acquiring more mana but also by spreading its influence through the conquest of various settlements in the area. If they humans are not strong enough to resist, that is not going to happen. I will act to reduce the anomaly's influence. And when it reveals itself, I have the authority to redirect our forces for a response, and to prepare a worthy champion."
The others paused.
"She is the logical choice," Legate Xyl'thran Kor said. "Her skill set is optimized for this scenario. Legate Grul'ka's methods would be too provocative. My focus is too broad. Legate Lyra'xis provides the best approach here."
Grul'ka Hek gave a guttural click of concession. It was not a sound of disagreement but of respect. "Then you will have the hardest fight, teacher. You must grow an army from nothing while staring into the eyes of the enemy, and preparing a champion is not easy, even if they have powerful traits."
"I will do it," Lyra'xis said. "It is the purpose for which I was assigned to the Phalanx, and for which I've the most experience in."
"Approved. Legate Sola will keep position over the Entropean region with full authority," the commander said.
He studied her for a long moment. "The assignment is ratified. Do not fail the Doctrine, Legate."
"Now we will assign the rest of the sectors. Legate Grul'ka to Alia. Legate Rhy'vok to Auralia. Legate Kor'vash maintains the primary supply nexus on the Frigan continent."
The commander gave the other Legates their assignment. "Understood," they all said together once the discussion was done.
"One last note," he said. "Should the anomaly prove to be too strong for the natives to kill it, all citadels must converge for immediate termination once it has been found."
The displays updated with deployment coordinates. Outside the command center, the citadels moved, their massive forms breaking formation as they began their journey to their assigned corners of the world.
Lyra'xis watched seven of the eight fortresses speed away, leaving only hers hanging above the Entropian continent. Below, millions of humans struggled to survive, unaware that their fate now rested with alien species that had seen worlds burn.
She raised her arms toward the screen in front of her and checked the maps pointing to the major human centers. There was one particularly large one nearby, Creamont, as the humans called it. The real work was about to start.