[h3][b]Chapter 1: No Man's Land[/b][/h3]

[i]19/04/2284
2156hrs
Settlement Omega 25[/i]

Gabriel's current target Bruticus Finch had an apartment in this settlement. The man was worth 4000 credits dead, not a bad pay check but was it really worth all this effort? Gabriel hadn't seen any sign of life in this settlement at all everyone was gone. There were no signs of struggle though items were scattered around as if they had just been dropped and left. Gabriel had heard rumors of Settlements that had been disappearing or dropping off the grid as of late, but he hadn't heard anything about this settlement being on that list. "[color=662d91]What a waste of time...[/color]" He said out loud while ha made his way to Finch's apartment. When he arrived he was not surprised to see a similar scene as everywhere else a book dropped on the floor but no sign of struggle "[color=662d91]Tsh... Doesn't look like I'll be getting paid this time....[/color]" Gabriel then walked out of the Apartment a bit disappointed.

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[i]23/04/2284
0946hrs
Tryliin geostationary orbit, aboard the Marlkindine Co. Headquarters Station[/i]

[color=008000]“...No luck so far, sir. It appears we're having trouble with the local raiders, they're well fortified and showing no si-”[/color]
[color=FFFF00]“I'll send another thousand men, plus equipment and supplies. We can't afford to slow down now. I expect you to be on the first ship down once we secure the area, Doctor Hendres.”[/color]

The man wore a three piece suit, fashioned in the older style of industrial Earth, around the early 2000's. His face was sharp, and his hair had begun to slightly grey. He was slightly wrinkled, and had bags under his eyes, obviously from staying up late into the nights due to work. He smoked a cigar, rare in these days of instant gratification via nicotine air injections, and continued to stare out the viewport, blinking slowly and observing the Markindine Fleet formations drifting to and fro. Beside him, a much older man, balding and bespectacled, wearing the classic uniform of a Markindine research director, anxiously stood beside him, trying to stand straight but finding it difficult with age. It appeared that Yanda Markindine was growing impatient. After a lengthy pause of time, Doctor Hendres spoke again:

[color=008000]“I must warn you sir, that the data is only preliminary. It does seem to indicate that what we are seeking may be more intriguing than previously thought, but still... There is no way to be sure. I must advise against running straight into the fire like this. We should acquire assistance from S-GAF Science Division, a lot of the other species have been studying this particular phenomenon much longer than our corporation and it's subsidiaries combined... The data would prove invaluable.”[/color]

Hendres paused, and observed the motionless Yanda for what seemed like an hour. Then, in a low voice that surprised Hendres, politely inquired: [color=FFFF00]“Doctor, do you know what our most profitable export is?”[/color]
Puzzled, Hendres brought up his PDA, and looked through the various files. [color=008000]“I believe this quarter it was our Banshee - Class Light Assault Walker, which sol-”[/color]

Yanda chuckled lightly to himself, and turned to the aging scientist. [color=FFFF00]“No no no, not by a long shot,”[/color] He turned, and walked down the bridge, placing his hands behind his back, with Doctor Hendres close behind him, [color=FFFF00]“no, our greatest export is much more than that. It is the ideal we uphold, how we are viewed by the other races, what they believe we stand for.”[/color] He continued to walk along, absorbed in his speech and paying Hendres little notice. [color=FFFF00]“We represent the might of humanity, that we are top dog. When the K'yaSynth threatened to bring the galaxy to it's knees, it was humans who led the charge against them, and ground them into dust. And in the soldier's hands, carrying those fine men and women like glorious chariots made of fire into the galaxy's finest hour, were Markindine weapons. Markindine battleships and tanks. It was all made by our family. By my father...”[/color]

Yanda placed a hand on Hendres shoulder, and began to walk back to the main view port. [color=FFFF00]“I wouldn't be half the man I am today, were it not for you. We have had our disagreements in... Ethics, before, but I have always known best,”[/color] he released his grip, and turned to face him, [color=FFFF00]“and I know, very well Hendres, that humanity is slipping. We're losing that power. Our image. But this planet holds the key. It is our greatest triumph, and our biggest threat.”[/color] Yanda motioned out the window, and smiled, staring at the yellow surface of the world which lit up his face.

[color=FFFF00]“And you're going to help me, Hendres. Like always, you are a brother to me. I look out for you, and you look out for me. And this morning, you changed everything. What you discovered is truly what we needed to regain our status, our supremacy...”[/color]
Yanda turned to face the doctor again, placing both his hands this time on Hendres shoulders, and looked intensely into his eyes. [color=FFFF00]“...And for that, Doctor: I thank you.”[/color]