The klaxons blaring throughout the Retribution were a symphony of pure, unadulterated panic. Red alert lights bathed the auxiliary bridge in a hellish, pulsing crimson, mirroring the sudden inferno of chaos that had just engulfed the Crimson Dominion. Emperor Valthor – fallen. The Imperial Palace – under siege from within, or by something that had breached its formidable defenses during the XF-001 distraction. Kael's mind, still processing their hard-won victory against the space jellyfish and the subsequent rewards, struggled to keep up with this new, catastrophic reality.
Commander Valerius's face, usually a mask of granite, was ashen on the comm screen, his voice tight with disbelief and horror. But it was General Iraxys's voice that cut through the rising tide of panic, cold as the void between stars, yet laced with a tremor of barely suppressed fury and a grief so profound it was almost a physical force. "All Crimson Legion forces, Protocol Scion activate! Secure the Imperial Palace! Repel all boarders! Find my father! This is General Iraxys, Acting Supreme Commander. Aethelgard is under siege!"
The auxiliary bridge crew, moments before exchanging relieved grins, snapped to attention, their faces grim. Kael looked at his companions. Elara's hand had flown to her mouth, her emerald eyes wide with shock. Zaria's playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a predator's stillness, her amber eyes narrowed and calculating. Veyra gripped her warhammer, a low growl rumbling in her chest, her violet eyes blazing with a warrior's instinctual response to treachery and battle. Sylvara, for once, looked genuinely alarmed, her divine aura flickering uncertainly. Seraphina's serene expression had hardened into one of grave concern, her hand already on the hilt of her celestial longsword.
"Acting Supreme Commander Iraxys," Kael spoke into the comm, his voice surprisingly steady, his newly enhanced Intellect (now a formidable 57) already sifting through the horrifying implications. The Team Cohesion Boost felt like a live wire connecting him to his team, their collective shock and readiness thrumming back at him. "My team and I are aboard the Stiletto, currently docked with the Retribution. We are armed, operational, and at your disposal. What are your orders?"
There was a fractional pause, then Iraxys's voice, tight and clipped, responded. "Vorne. Your timing is… noted. The Retribution is holding orbital position, attempting to secure a perimeter around the Palace Spire. Initial reports are… chaotic. Multiple internal breaches, comms blackouts in key sectors. Loyalist forces are scattered. The assailants are… unidentified, but they struck with precision at the Emperor's private sanctum during the XF-001 engagement." Her voice cracked almost imperceptibly on 'father.' "I need units I can trust. Units with… unconventional capabilities." Her affection for Kael, a hard-won 35% – "Impressed Respect & Acknowledged Asset" – was clearly factoring into her desperate calculations. "Your team. Can you operate independently, strike hard, and follow direct orders without… deviation?"
"We specialize in unconventional, General," Kael replied. "And my team follows my lead. Give us a target."
"Good," Iraxys said, a sliver of her usual iron returning. "The Imperial Command Spire is compromised. I need to retake its central control nexus to coordinate loyalist forces and ascertain the true situation. My personal guard will spearhead an assault from the lower levels. Your team, Vorne, will be inserted via high-altitude drop onto the Spire's upper docking platform 7. It's secondary, likely less defended than the main hangars, but offers direct access to the sub-levels leading to the nexus. Secure that platform, create a beachhead, and await my signal for a coordinated push. Expect heavy resistance. The enemy, whoever they are, knew the Palace's vulnerabilities."
A high-altitude drop onto a besieged spire crawling with unknown enemies? Kael's stomach did a familiar lurch, but he crushed the fear. This was it. No more simulations. "Understood, General. We'll secure Platform 7."
"Zero," Iraxys commanded the Stiletto's pilot, "you will detach and perform the insertion. Then provide close air support if possible. Vorne, the fate of the Dominion may well rest on these next few hours. Do not fail me." The comm channel cut.
Zero's voice, still flat but now with an undercurrent of grim urgency, filled the Stiletto's cockpit. "You heard the General, folks. Strap in. It's going to be a bumpy ride down to the party."
The Stiletto detached from the Retribution with a jolt, its engines screaming as Zero expertly navigated through a chaotic debris field of what looked like destroyed Dominion defense platforms and attacking ships – some of which bore unfamiliar, hostile insignias, others disturbingly, twisted versions of Crimson Dominion colors. The space around the Imperial Palace was a warzone. Explosions blossomed silently in the void, energy beams crisscrossed the crimson-tinged sky of Aethelgard, and ships darted and weaved in deadly ballets.
Inside the Stiletto, the mood was tense. Elara was already weaving protective enchantments around them, her brow furrowed in concentration. Zaria was checking her daggers, a feral glint in her eyes. "Internal breaches, you say? Sounds like someone knew exactly where to stick the knife. This has the Shadowmoth Guild's fingerprints all over it, if it were our style. But this… this is too loud, too overt for us."
Veyra was practically vibrating with contained battle-lust. "Treachery! Cowards striking from the shadows while true warriors faced the void-beast! I will personally decorate the Spire with their entrails!"
Sylvara, surprisingly, seemed almost… invigorated. "The fall of an empire, the shattering of order, Fated threads snapping like rotten cords… It is a symphony of cosmic recalibration! And I, Sylvara, shall be here to witness, and perhaps… guide its new composition!" She looked at Kael. "Ensure my survival, mortal, and I may even deign to unleash a fraction of my true power upon these upstart usurpers." Her affection, Kael noted, had ticked up to 38% "Anticipating Cosmic Drama." Apparently, the potential for grand, historical chaos appealed to her.
Seraphina, her face a mask of stern resolve, simply stated, "Order must be re-established. The entities responsible for this regicide and insurrection must be brought to justice. I will assist you in this, Kael Vorne. It aligns with the Compact's mandate against galactic destabilization." Her own affection held steady at a supportive 50%.
Kael nodded, his mind racing, trying to process the fragmentary intelligence reports flickering on the tactical display. The assailants were using energy weapons that could bypass some Dominion shielding, and there were reports of… entities. Not just soldiers, but strange, shadowy figures that moved with unnatural speed and resilience. Nullifiers? Or something else Valthor was worried about?
"Platform 7 incoming!" Zero yelled. "Heavy anti-aircraft fire! Hold on!"
The Stiletto bucked and weaved, dodging searing beams of energy. Explosions rocked them. Through the viewport, Kael saw the sprawling expanse of the docking platform, already a scene of carnage. Crimson Legionnaires were locked in desperate combat with figures in dark, form-fitting armor that seemed to absorb the light, their movements unnervingly fluid. And among them… yes, Kael saw them. Tall, gaunt figures, wreathed in shadow, their forms flickering as if they weren't entirely real. They looked horrifyingly similar to the Shadow Enchanters they'd fought in the Golden Chalice, but these felt… stronger, more focused.
"Those shadowy ones!" Kael yelled. "They're like the Enchanters, but worse! Elara, Sylvara, Seraphina, your light-based attacks will be key against them! Zaria, Veyra, focus on the armored troops – create an opening for us to land!"
The Stiletto's ramp slammed down onto the ferrocrete of Platform 7 amidst a hail of enemy fire. Two of their marine escorts were cut down before they even cleared the ramp.
"Go, go, go!" Kael roared, surprisingly finding his voice. He didn't have a weapon beyond his own fists and his wits, but he charged out, his companions fanning out beside him. The Team Cohesion Boost thrummed, a network of shared resolve. His Infamy was 200. He could use Dark Dominion four times if needed.
The battle for Platform 7 was brutal and immediate. Elara's shields flared, absorbing a volley of dark energy bolts. Veyra was a crimson whirlwind, her warhammer crushing the dark-armored soldiers like insects, each blow a thunderclap. Zaria moved like a phantom, her daggers flashing, exploiting every opening Veyra created, her whip disarming and tripping enemies with contemptuous ease.
Sylvara, with a shriek of outrage at being fired upon by "mere ground-crawlers," unleashed a nova of golden light that vaporized three of the shadowy figures instantly, their screams cut short. Seraphina, a silver angel of death, her celestial blade a blur, engaged a heavily armored enemy champion, their duel a flash of light and shadow.
Kael spotted a cluster of the dark-armored troops setting up a heavy energy weapon, clearly intending to target the Stiletto or incoming Dominion reinforcements. He had to stop them.
"Cover me!" he yelled, and charged towards them, his enhanced Strength of 37 giving him surprising speed. He focused on the nearest trooper, pouring 50 Infamy into Dark Dominion. The Synthari Lens enhanced its effect.
[Enhanced Dark Dominion Deployed! Target: Crimson Insurgent Trooper. Resistance: Moderate. Override Success! Target temporarily under user's control. Duration: 25 seconds.]
The trooper froze, then, to the shock of his comrades, spun around and opened fire on them with his own energy rifle. The betrayal, however brief, sowed enough chaos for Kael to close the distance. He tackled another trooper, his surprising strength sending the man sprawling. He brought his fist down on the trooper's helmet with a satisfying crunch, then rolled away as another fired at him.
The platform was a charnel house, but they were making progress. Kael, Elara, and Seraphina focused on the shadowy entities, their combined light and magical attacks proving highly effective. Veyra and Zaria carved a bloody swathe through the armored insurgents. Sylvara, having decided that these particular pests were indeed offensive enough to warrant her attention, was raining down divine fire with theatrical glee.
Slowly, painstakingly, they cleared Platform 7. The last shadowy figure dissolved under a combined blast from Elara and Seraphina, the last insurgent falling to Veyra's hammer. The Stiletto's pilot, Zero, let out a shaky cheer over the comms.
"Platform 7 secured, General Iraxys," Kael reported into his comm unit, panting. "Light to moderate resistance, now neutralized. Awaiting your signal." His Infamy was now 150.
"Acknowledged, Vorne," Iraxys's voice came back, still tight but with a new note of respect. "Your efficiency is… commendable. My forces are meeting heavier resistance at the main access points. The enemy is well-entrenched and using unknown tactics. There are reports of… phasing, conceptual attacks. Some of my best legionnaires are simply… vanishing."
Kael's blood ran cold. Conceptual attacks. Vanishing. Nullifiers. Valthor's "greater threat" wasn't just coming; it was here. This wasn't just a coup; it was an invasion by an enemy that broke the rules of reality.
"General," Kael said urgently, "the Emperor. What was he working on? What did he fear most?"
A pause. Then Iraxys's voice, heavy with dawning horror. "The Chronophage Scourge… the Silent Nullifiers. He believed they were an existential threat, capable of erasing realities. He was building… a conceptual shield for Aethelgard, around the Palace itself. If they struck at him, it was to stop that."
"Then that's our target too, General," Kael said. "The Emperor's Sanctum. If they're after his research, his weapon, we have to get there first. Or at least stop them from claiming it." He looked at the gaping entrance to the Palace Spire from Platform 7, a dark maw leading into a labyrinth of treachery and unknown horrors. "This just got a whole lot more complicated than a simple palace coup."
The system updated, a grim new objective overlaying his previous one.
[Questline Update: The Crimson Imperative – New Primary Objective: Reach Emperor Valthor's Sanctum. Secure or destroy his anti-Nullifier research/weaponry before the enemy can claim it. Secondary Objective: Confirm the Emperor's fate. Tertiary Objective: Identify the primary orchestrators of the Palace siege.]
Warning: Multiple high-level threats detected within the Spire. Enemy forces are utilizing reality-distorting tactics. Proceed with extreme caution.
Kael looked at his companions, their faces grim but resolute. "Well, team," he said, a wry smile touching his lips. "Looks like we're going deeper into the rabbit hole. Or in this case, the actively collapsing, demon-and-robot-infested, possibly conceptually unmaking, Imperial rabbit hole from hell." He took a breath. "Who's first through the door?"