Somewhere along deep space, in the Horsehead Nebula, a massive ship slowly hums along. Hovering in its planet's ionosphere, close to where Earth's International Space Station was once idle. Black impenetrable plates of Neutro-Metals--a better name than its nuclear pasta counterparts, hit against an asteroid head on.
The asteroid being a nine on the Torino Scale if it were to hit any planets conquered by humans. They only have impressive starship shielding to block an asteroid that is a five on said scale.
A sickly green-yellow glow exudes from this Litan'ka ship, its length is approximately four thousand miles. Its width being around seven-hundred fifty miles. This is only the Coordinator. Not even a Carrier ship like Uk'tansa. Another report comes in as their laser communication line flickers with its red mysterious and ominous glow.
Inside the ship, bipedal creatures with robotic legs load up their stations as a wide screen blinks on after what would be two hundred years of patience, based on their planet's rotation being two times faster than that of the Earth.
The screen shows highlighted red lines as it downloads the information for probably the last time. The world of Olaris is now depleted of all its resources. Its time to move on.
One of these creatures, their arms thin only having one titanium metal plank for them, walks up to their leader. Most of them call them Hunger, or Leader, but this one calls them by their personal name, "Captain, the last order has been given. Next location is the Helix Nebula. Should we depart?"
"Good. After depleting all the resources on every planet, sun and moon in this nebula I was starting to worry we wouldn't find a new source." Captain's says. Their voice deep and meticulous. They turn to meet the Worker, compared to them this Worker is about stomach height. "What's the time for encapsulation, Sheep?"
"Around six months, sir."
So quick? They never thought the Queen would be able to be so direct with their approach. There must be something there that they need to conquer.
Captain turns back to the large screen as the neutro-metals within the ship whir and hiss all at once letting scalding steam rise in the ship before venting all the steam out into space. The ship takes its very first breath. Maintanence did very well during hibernation protocol.
Captain beckons Sheep to the control panel alongside them as a blinking yellow button persists, "Time for an explanation."
A figure calls from from the Uk'tansa, a larger Carrier ship made of the same materials and a stronger space shield generator. She is the only one allowed to have a pronoun that matches the Creator, whoever they are.
Her figure is fattened with resources, but her internal heat compressors breakdown the resources enough to keep her mobile. She's held at the superquantum computer center within the center of the ship.
Her glowing yellow and black eyes take front stage of this call, she grips her station's armrests tightly and opens her sharp metal jaws, "I hunger for more, Captain. What's the hold up?"
Captain doesn't like her impatience, its pretty damning for the whole colony. They place their hand on their heart and give a mellow bow, "I do apologize, Queen. Your patience is met with gratitude."
She seems to loosen the grip of her armrests, digital code and electric whirring slowing down. "What is your question."
"What did you find that was six months away, Queen? It struck me as oddily curious."
She squints her eyes and grabs an orb. It's black and made of glass with a glowing green light at its center, "Prophet told me. There are many resources there." She widens a holographic image set by the orb sends it to their Coordinator ship in full view with a red ping at the location, "Also, a second Prophet."
Captain does their best to keep a straight face. Can't show the Queen that they're practically wanting to celebrate this occasion, "Very well. Thank you for indulging my curiousity, Queen. We'll be departing and moving to position immediately,"
"Good. The warp portal we spent the past one hundred and fifty years building will finally be able to be of good use."
Another blip on the screen shows three hundred fleets heading their direction. The Velakians finally realized their home planet has been depleted. What a pity on their lack of attention--and technology.
It probably took them this long to even muster up a tiny fleet to become fodder for them. Maybe they should sacrifice the planet for extra resources before they head on their journey.
"Queen, seems the little bugs are arriving soon. Shall we leave them with a departing gift?" Captain says, their finger already hovering the Core Cracker button. Its red and pulsating slowly, "We could also use some more resources for our journey."
Queen takes a moment to think. Surely she will agree to this assessment. She declared she was hungry moments earlier. Her black dress covering straight muscle and metal frame settles in a new position--a green light blinks. Say no more.
Captain presses the button, blinking quickly and the station blares silently, alternating between yellow and black, "Sheep. Plan to send the Velakians a departing gift."
Sheep lets out a chuckle, "Yes, sir. The Core Cracker shall be activated momentarily."
Sheep sings and dances their way towards the center of the Litan'ka commands the Workers to align the energy rods. They sit at a chair at its center and pull a lever--lowering a hatch that's completely empty. Another button of similar nature to the one at the Captain's station in pulsates slowly, waiting to be pressed for confirmation.
"Pack Leader, the energy rods are aligned!" A metalic voice pierces through the holographic intercom.
Sheep almost presses the button, but places his hand on a second lever. "Thank you, Cracker Coordinator. I'll open a second hatch, will that be alright?"
"Be my guest."
"Perfect." They say, pulling the second lever and a second hatch opens completely empty as well. They send a laser message to Captain, "Captain, I'm ready to press the button."
"I noticed you openned a second hatch, Sheep. With one its enough."
"Better to have more for the Queen. Besides, you might earn more of her favor to do what you want in battle once we arrive." Sheep does a double tap on the desk. Signifying 'Trust me' to Captain. Its a signature move Sheep does and usually is always right to trust.
"Very well, Sheep. I trust your judgement. Press the button."
The button is pressed and after two quick blinks the red light stays permanently on. Powerful energetic forces slowly converge at the tip of this large device and it shoots out of the Coordinator. It aligns with other rods from the millions of ships around the planet. The energy is a green-yellow. A little excessive. The Queen does love her drama.
The Uk'tansa opens its hatch and a large extended metal rod carries the energy core and with a swift push of the final button the metal heats up from the extra energy cores open in space around her ship. Once all the energy cores from the outerships are depleted it shoots this titanium metal piece onto the now barren and depleted planet at light speed.
The core of the planet gets promptly destroyed and with the laser applying constant damage the planet slowly, rock by rock. Loses its atmosphere. The magentic barrier--dissipated. All resources getting vaccumed into the two empty hatches, enough to last them three years of resources to consume. Per ship. The Uk'tansa gaining four hatches worth.
The planet is now non-existent with the process finished. Litan'ka guides itself beside the Uk'tansa and all ships enter hyperdrive towards their next location. There only bits of rock no smaller than an asteroid left in its place. The Velakians will love this gift. They can't do anything about it now. They must accept their fate--as the Cravers take another planet.