“And finally, output has risen with 32% since the use of Rarian slaves.” The human finished his report. He was Adranos, overseer of mining facility Delta-745. There was literally nothing special about the location. Just another asteroid belt around an uninhabited star. But the empire need its resources. The supervisor on the other side of him nodded and then closed the conference call. The two didn’t talk. Adranos was capable and competent in his current role, but know that anything more than overseer would put a strain on him. Besides, he liked the peaceful life. Well, he used to like it. Things had gotten a little rowdy lately, as several Minotaur and Rhino Rarians slaves had been forced upon him. He wasn’t fond of them. They ate a lot, gnarled and roared like animals and smelled absolutely horrible. But he could not deny their raw strength when it came to moving machinery. After work though, he made sure they were chained up. The last thing he wanted was letting those beasts wild in a pressurized space station in the literal middle of no-where.
 
Adranos stepped out of his office into main control. Several operators were sending out orders to the various haulers and miners passing through. It was an efficient operation. While technically main control did not need windows, it did have them. A morale boost, according to some human scientist back at the capital. Adranos was skeptical at first. But now as he could see the sun in the distance and the rocks of ice and stone in the distance, he couldn’t deny the beauty of the scene. In the center of the room stood the holo-table, showing the various ships and the station. But one thing grabbed Andranos’ attention. The yellow light. High-speed, small particles approaching. Normally he wouldn’t be bothered. At best it would scratch the paint. But the last time such particles had come for the station was years ago and the astronomers hadn’t picked any up.
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Diverting attention. They held Relica in vice maybe, but that meant they had to weaken their hold on other places. Who would care for another mining station? But industry was industry. Humans already complained when haulers were finished. What if an entire station was thrown into the void? “Are you sure you’re up for this?” asked Oborus to one of the Geomancers. “You probably haven’t thrown many rocks at the enemy before.”
 
“We’ll be fine.” Talzoran said with a light tone of suspicion. He didn’t like killing humans. But at the same time he didn’t like being killed. He was with the resistance now, if he liked it or not. And if he liked it or not, he was a capable geomancer. His brothers and sisters were all aboard the Imperia-class cruiser, Estilia’s Vengeance. Formerly the Ysterïa. But Oborus had renamed her and then baptized the ship in the fires of piracy. Estilia was the fleet she was part of. Like all Imperia-classes, there was plenty of room and both the tide-casters and the geomancers could practice their art. As a cloud of various gasses they moved in for the kill. Behind them a single ice-rock was tailing in the cloud. Just invisible and hidden within the moving cloud. Until, of course, it was too late.
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“Hull breach in level 4, 5, 6 and 7.”
“Multiple fires detected.”
“Main hanger is depressurizing.”
“Cargo hauler Goran, Sylvis, Tona and Ypres reporting damage.”
Andaros looked with wide eyes at the cloud as he realized what just passed him. A few levels below him there was a gaping hole in his station, leading all the way to an ice asteroid that had been slammed into their station. Defense systems, or rather those still functional, were opening manual fire on the gas. But how could they hit something they couldn’t see.
“Sir, multiple crafts incoming! Not hailing any friendly codes.” Andaros turned around and watched wide eyed as his people were sucked in the vacuum. In the distance he thought he saw three lights moving. So small were they. “Shoot at them!” he yelled, but once again it was all too late. Torpedoes were hitting the wound. Tearing the metal to shreds.
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58 minutes later
~[/center]
Oborus looked at the chained down Rhino Rarian, having never seen one before. She had heard rumors of feral beasts working as slaves. Their cells saved them though. It would seem the overseer had put them in electable, vacuum sealed prison cells. Probably a precaution should they attempt to break out. But one that saved them all the same.
 
Much like the human overseer, Oborus wasn’t planning on endangering her cruiser. All around the Rhino stood her marine corps. The Relicants remained silent, pointing their caster-rifles at the ground but eyeing the Rhino with suspicion. One wrong move would earn him a slug in the head. Or several. If that didn’t kill him, getting thrown out the airlock would. There were a few other cells still floating I space with his brethren in there. With any luck, some other Rarian would talk.
 
The captain showed no fear. No mercy. No weakness. But at the same time she didn’t show any passion. She didn’t show anger or hatred. She looked icy cold. “Who are you? What are you and why are you here? Answer those questions in that order.” She demanded.
 
“I’am Grind the Rockbreaker, dragon of the Rockhorns.” He answers with pride “and I am here because of the weaklings cowardness.” He continues with the same tone as he looks at his surrounding “I believe I have answered your questions.” He finishes as he looks around more. 
 
He lets out a small grins as he looks at her eyes “the eyes of a seasoned fighter I see.” He says happily “A Rarian in the making.” He says with a grin “You would have made a worthy enemy or friend to the Rarians” He continues with a sarcastic tone.
 
Next to Captain Oborus Talzoran appeared. A scholar, a student, a teacher. He had none of the captain’s iciness. Nor any strong appearance. For the longest time he had simply studied the art of Geomancy. Now he was a fighter but he didn’t look like one. Yet still, he and his Geomancer brethren had earned the Captain’s respect when they hurled that frozen rock into the station “Captain… do you think it wise to bring this it onboard?” he whispered. “It is clear that he is still a lower life-form. The Edicts of the Seeder-Gods demand that we do not interfere with the natural course. Maybe even by letting him on the ship we could have inadvertently altered the course of his species.” All Relicants were religious, to a point. But Talzoran had deepend himself into the teachings of the Seeder-Gods. Beyond that which the humans made of it.
 
But the Captain was not a zealot. “If he tries anything, I’ll have him killed.” she coldly said, without changing her tone. “I can assure you, I am not Rarian. Whatever they may be. I am Relicant. A proud one at that.” She said back at Grind. “And I have my enemies already. I will assume we share them. The humans.” She didn’t like him calling them weakling cowards. There was truth and lie in it both. Some humans were cowards, but she had seen many a human stand up to fight for what they believe in. In a way, humans were more courageous than her own brethren.
 
“Tell me, Grind-” she left the title away on purpose. This beast was far too proud for her. “ from where does your species hail? And how exactly did you end up on a mining station-” she looked up and down at the unsealed cell and the chains. “-as a slave to the Empire of Man?”
 
“A Relicant-Rarian what a weird name.” He answers with the same annoying grind “We are a race of the strong and if you are strong you are a Rarian.” He continues “We are a race that we’re conquered physically but never mentally we will never yield to the likes of a coward.” He continues. 
 
“Our home was Ram the home of dragons.” He says telling you about his planet “We are dragons the killer of gods.” he follows up eyeing at the zealot “those who are strong are Rarian and those who are weak are not.” He finishes his explanation.
 
“The EOM were cowards that didn’t fought with honor!” He says as anger starts to fill his voice “They were cowards that shot us from the skies” He says remembering the actions ever getting anger “They will meet our wrath!” He yells out calming down after.   
 
Long ago, when wars were fought with swords and mail, the Relicants may have agreed. But times have changed. Swords made ways for muskets. Then guns and now for railguns. Honor became an outdated concept. The idea that one should always see who he kills was rendered obsolete when the distance became too great. Honor became discipline. Discipline became respect. With the rise of the Tranquil Order, honor got a new meaning. Instead of fighting with it, they helped each other in the honorable way.
 
So when the Rhino raged about honor, both Talzoran and Oborus remained stone-faced. It was clear now to the captain that this was indeed a lesser life-form like Talzoran had suggested. However, it was clear that he was physically a lot stronger than any Relicant could ever hope for. And the captain knew it when she saw opportunity. “Tell me about these strong Rarians. Are there more like your kin? Are you all like you?” The captain asked with great interest. Talzoran took a step back, casting a final glance at the Rhino, then back at his captain before he walked away.
 
“The Rarians were indeed many, from mighty to the cunning, to giants or your size.” He answers calmed and humbled by their words “Your words are true but I have not measured you worthy.” He answers seriously as he looks at the female Relicant. “ Fight me and I shall tell more.” He proposed serious and prepared for any outcome. 
 
“Our empire might have been shattered but our identity lives on.”He explains not changing his tone “We are proud dragons of old” He starts to sing a famous Rarain song “with hearts and souls of honor” he continues “Evading death till the end.” He softly ends his song waiting for their answer.
 
Captain Oborus eyed the Rhino. She wasn't a fool, the beast was massive. Even if she chose to fight him, the Estilia’s Vengeance would suffer greatly because of it. There was no place for fighting onboard. But at the same time, she knew that the Relicants could use some dumb forces. They themselves were physically too frail. Still, fighting was not an option. How would she convince this beast that the Relicants were stronger in other things. Like technology. but she forgot the true strength of her people.
 
She chose that she couldn’t give the Rhino a fair fight. Not on her ship. Should she try to land on a nearby planet, she risked his brethren’s death and what was one wounded ally? No she needed them all and above all, she needed them unconditionally. But how could she do that if she couldn’t fight him hand to hand. Well… she could break the law even more. Relicants did swear they would never inadvertently change Fate. For only the Seeder-Gods were Weavers of Fate. But here this giant was and here the Relicants were. Dying in opression. Laws would have to be bend.
 
Instead of releasing him for a fair fight she reached out with her hands towards him. In her mind she reached out to the shackles and began to magnetically charge them. Some Geomancers around her who wisely stayed out of the viewing field of the Rhino, aided in her endeavour, as they realized what she was trying to do. Grind’s binds would pull him down to the ground, forcing him on his knees. With faked confidence she said: “We are not mere creatures of flesh and blood, Grind, Dragon of the Rockhorns. We are more powerful than you can imagine. Now kneel and show your respects!”
 
As the binds forcibly pulls him down, Grind desperately tries everything to stand his ground, thinking that he rather die than bow down to a non-Rarian, he prepares to sacrifice everything just to preserve his honor, soon the massive beast’s skin turn red as his shackles starts to crush the bones of his arms.
 
“I WILL NOT BOW DOWN TO THE LIKES OF WEAKLINGS!” He yells out trying to pull back the shackles as blood starts to pour from his broken hands desperately trying to gain his footing.
 
Oborus saw how the giant Rhino was fighting her power. Going even so far as getting his hands broken instead of bowing down. But the captain could not let the beast win. If anything, they were of equal determination. Some Geomancers around her falter. Dropping down on the ground as drops of blood flowed out of their noses. The fight had put a terrible stress on their bodies. But the bodies weren’t the only thing tested. The very metal of Grind’s chains was fighting both Grind and Oborus. Until one chain could no longer bear it. It snapped, freeing Grind’s broken hand.
 
Immediatly the Rhino trusted his fist as Oborus, who was ill-prepared for hit. She was send flying through the ship, slamming into the wall and fell down in a few boxes. Her leuitenant saw her flying with fear in his eyes. “Detain the beast!” Marines moved in with their railguns.
 
“Stop!” yelled Oborus, who pulled herself up. Her right legt was bent wrong and she held her left rights tight. Blood flowed from her nose and the few wounds across her body. While beaten and battered, she still stood up, her broken leg barely supporting her. But there was still fire in her eyes. With one arm outstretched again she held the binding of his freed arm in place. Making sure he wouldn’t trash any others. “Grind of the Rockhorns. I believe we have come to a draw.”
 
Seeing that his attack connected, he calmed down feeling the full extent of his injuries as pain start to surge to his body as his hand lays broken the results of his desperate action but despite the injuries and the pain he smiles for his lost yield out a thousand victories an new ally, sanctuary and a million opportunities he tells to himself.
 
He smiles visible to all as he stands down showing not an ounce of his previous rage “I told you an Rarian in a making.” He says to the bloodied Oborus “I have tested you and I have found your worth.” He continues as he looks at his broken arms “You fought me and I have fought you, you bleed and I bleed.” He comments as he feels the sting of the pain of his injuries.
 
“You are a Rarian now.” He says with pride “though frail like a Rabbit you have shown me that you have the courage and the bravery of an Rarian.” He continues explaining “Though you're far from being a dragon.” He remarks chuckling a little bit as he takes a look at her eyes paying no mind to the hostile men aiming their railguns at the giant enjoying the new fires that now rest in her eyes.
[right][sub]Collab with [@Wildman13][/sub][/right]