Fiction:New Cyrandia Wars/Year One/Amphryssos Campaign



A new day has dawned in the. Under the command of the ancient, the zealots have grown from strength to strength. However, not all within the theocracy agree with the current path of their civilisation. Over the skies of the mysterious world of Amphryssos, events will occur that will change not only an idealistic shiplord, but the fate of a species separated from their kin by over twenty one million light years...



Backstory
In a time long since forgotten, the enigmatic Empire existed not only in the, but across the First Gigaquadrant spreading its knowledge across the stars and aiding the development of countless species. In the, their presence was strong and they guided many of the native Plazithians with a deft hand. As the millennia passed, the Oikoumene mysteriously vanished though their influence throughout the Gigaquadrant remained strong through ancient artefacts left behind. On the ancient planet of Pământ, a culture of Pământians cultivated an entire civilisation thanks to technology discovered by the race they referred to as the "Old Ones". Reaching into space from their island continent of Mu, the Pământians created a vast interstellar civilisation the envy of the entire galaxy. However, as they grew increasing levels of cultural and technological sophistication, the Pământians soon encountered a threat that sought to banish their race back to Pământ. A massive war ensued, resulting in the sound defeat of the Pământians, whose entire culture was destroyed one planet at a time until the reptilian lords finally bombarded their home continent from orbit, sinking it into the very depths of the sea. However, a single ship of refugees managed to escape the carnage and using the last remnant of Old One technology on Pământ, transported themselves to another galaxy.

Their ship badly damaged, the Pământians crash-landed on a barren, barely inhabitable world. With most of their technology destroyed, a new culture emerged on this world and over the next one hundred and fifty thousand years, the Homincyradae developed. However, due to the adverse conditions of their new homeworld, the natives took to wearing enviro-suits at all times in order to protect themselves from the many dangers of their home planet, which they named Amphryssos. Ignorant to their true origins, the Homincyradae constructed an interstellar empire in the Unknown Regions of the Cyrannus Galaxy, becoming known traders and diplomats to the native Cyrannian species. However, unbeknownst to the peaceful humans, there was more to their adopted homeworld then met the eye as the nefarious gaze of their galactic neighbours soon became drawn to the secrets that lay beneath the sands...

Prologue
The comm-room of the Angelós-class Destroyer Tenebrous was richly decorated, almost unusually so in comparison with the decor prevalent on other Cognatus vessels. Shiplord Thaur'Vicliquam stood motionless in the centre of the room, anticipating a transmission from Theu'Vandonee himself, the Imperial Warmaster of the. Though seen by his underlings as elusive and enigmatic, the Warmaster's reputation as a cunning warrior preceded him. However, so too did his reputation as one who doubts the words of the new leader of the empire. Indeed, the young 'Vicliquam shared his concerns, though as a lowly shiplord he did not have the power or authority to make his feelings known without fear of reprimand. Despite this, he hid his feelings well and to all who knew him, he was but one of thousands of loyal Primercer-worshipping lackeys.

''So much is changing so quickly. I hold no hope in my heart that a god would intervene so implicitly in the affairs of mortals...'' Thaur thought to himself as the green light of the holocommnication device flooded the room and the image of the golden-emblazoned armour of Theu'Vandonee filled the room. Despite nearing two hundred and fifty years of age, 'Vandonee was still physically fit, though his days of front-line service have long since drifted into memory. Clicking his mandibles in greeting, Shiplord Vicliquam bowed as a mark of respect.

"Good blessings, Warmaster. The shiplord and crew of the Tenebrous await your wise commands.", the Shiplord said as he lifted his head, his crimson eyes fixed on his superior. 'Vandonee returned Thaur's greeting with the closest a could manage to a smile.

"In his wisdom, our new lord has deemed us worthy enough to benefit from a holy artifact left behind by the Ancients under the mountains of a world in the Vena Sector", 'Vandonee said with a tinge of skepticism overt enough to be picked up by Thaur's alert ears. "It is my wish for the Tenebrous to lead the charge to claim this artifact."

Thaur contemplated the Warmaster's words with great interest and clicked his mandibles in approval. "It would be my honour, Warmaster. For the glory of the Cognatus and the success of our people!"

The Warmaster nodded in approval and bade farewell to the young Shiplord. As the hologram vanished, the green light that had filled the room was replaced with a warm crimson glow. Sighing to himself, Thaur picked up a nearby piece of fruit and bit into it, unaware of the fact that his entire life would be changed over the course of the following week...

The Discovery in the Mountains
The surface of Amphryssos was bleak, desolate and nearby devoid of life. Clinging onto existence on the inhospitable world were the Homincyradae, a peaceful race of humanoids notable for lacking any form of military, preferring to put their faith in science and diplomacy. Though orbiting a relatively normal yellow main sequence star, only one side of the planet had any contact with sunlight, with the other half cloaked in perpetual darkness. The Homincyradae lived primarily in domed cities in a small stretch of "twilight zone" between the cold  and warm halves of the planet. Both halves of these regions of Amphryssos were relatively unexplored by the Homincyradae, who preferred to explore the vastness of space rather than their bleak homeworld. Nevertheless, the young scientist Vaslah and her partner Shinto managed to convince the Homincyradae Congress to fund an expedition to uncover more information regarding the past, specifically how the Homincyradae could have evolved on such a world as Amphryssos. As their shuttle touched down on a cliff overlooking the Cazzal Mountains, Vaslah gathered herself just in time to appreciate the view. ''I don't care what everyone says. This planet is beautiful.'', she thought to herself. The sun gleamed against her visor and seemed to illuminate the gray hills below, creating an illusion that they were made from crystal.

"What's that over there?", Shinto asked, pointing towards a glowing object buried in a nearby rock formation. Turning to face it, Vaslah studied the distant object closely. It appeared to be nestled between two blue crystal rocks and was distinctly artificial in nature, though the glowing beacon-like device attached to it was amorphous in its shape and puzzling in its nature. As the two Homincyradae cautiously approached the object, space above the planet was torn asunder by the arrival of a massive alien fleet blasting out from hyperspace. Arriving so close to the planet's surface caused massive earthquakes that threw both Homincyradae off their feet.

"Back to the shuttle! Quickly!" Vaslah bellowed as she got to her feet. Running towards the shuttle as the ground cracked beneath her, she suddenly noticed that Shinto was no longer behind her. Turning her head, the young Homincyradae was horrified to see that her friend's helmet had been ruptured by a falling rock, painfully suffocating him. "No..."

As she climbed into the shuttle, Vaslah removed her helmet and began to weep. However, when a nearby rock formation collapsed not ten metres away from the shuttle, she pulled herself together. Taking control of the craft, she piloted it through the collapsing spires of rock, narrowly missing many as she sped towards the nearest city.

Trivia

 * The Amphryssos Campaign is very much considered an experiment by to see if he enjoys writing this sort of story.