The Imperators suited up in their heavy armor, securing weapons, checking systems, and ensuring every piece of equipment was ready for the upcoming assault. They moved with synchronized efficiency, each step and action refined from years of practice and countless missions. After a final check, they boarded their ship, strapped in, and awaited the jump into warpspace.
The ship hummed, then roared as it breached warpspace, stars stretching into bright, winding streaks around them, pulling them through a web of light. Moments later, they emerged near the Entil's main star system, their target now in sight—a massive Entil supply vessel cruising through the black void with its escort frigates stationed nearby.
Unlike Federation ships, which were sleek and built for tactical efficiency, this Entil vessel had a bizarre, imposing architecture that radiated an aura of reverence and sanctity. Its body was a pristine, almost blinding white, with a blocky, brick-like structure that stretched across an intimidating length. It lacked the sleekness of Federation ships, yet held a peculiar sense of grace, as though each heavy corner and geometric angle had been carefully chosen.
The ship was adorned with intricate symbols and engravings carved directly into the hull—religious iconography depicting scenes of Entil gods and heroes from their ancient myths. Massive statues of otherworldly figures with stern, metal-carved faces lined the sides, as if guarding the ship on its voyage. At the front, a towering effigy of what looked to be a god-like hooded figure wielding a spear pointed toward deep space, like a silent guardian watching over the convoy.
While it was unnecessary for the overall flight of the ship, there was no denial of the beauty.
The Imperators took in the sight with a mixture of curiosity and indifference. Sahaad allowed himself a moment to examine the alien artistry before clearing his mind. They were here to complete a mission, not admire Entil craftsmanship.
"All right, everyone in the pods," he ordered. They quickly strapped into their drop pods, securing themselves for the violent, high-speed launch that awaited.
"Remember the mission," Sahaad said, his voice filling each of their helmets. "We will be launching faster than the speed of sound to penetrate the hull of the ship, then we disable it, the faster we can withdraw. Get in, cripple the ship, and get out."
As they received the green light, their pods shot out of the ship like bullets, rocketing toward the massive supply vessel at breakneck speed.
Sahaad could feel his organs slamming against his ribcage as they rocketed at inhuman speeds, causing mild discomfort. His insides were almost as tough as outside thanks to a century of genetic engineering.
Each pod smashed into the hull, shattering the outer plating in a blaze of sparks and screeching metal.
The alien craft shuddered against the impact, most likely alerting the arrival of the Imperators throughout the whole ship.
The Imperators quickly exited their pods, weapons at the ready, and stepped into the alien corridors.
Inside, the ship's atmosphere was thick and humid, tinged with a strange incense-like smell that lingered in the air. The interior was even more heavily adorned with religious symbols, long corridors flanked by pillars etched with glyphs. Tall, arched ceilings curved above them, decorated with stained glass depictions of Entil deities that cast eerie, multicolored shadows on the walls. Faint chants echoed through hidden speakers, filling the air with a haunting melody that seemed to follow them wherever they moved.
"I've heard the old Empire before the War of Heaven also followed the Old Gods", Kato informed, examining the scriptures.
"Yes, but we had no statues of the gods, we only used symbols", Sia said, elaborating on Kato's point. "With the gods sealed away the mortals who still worship them improvise their beliefs and change over the millenia".
"Focus." Sahaad replied sharply. "Stick to the objective. We're here for tactical interference."
The team pressed forward, moving quickly through the halls. They encountered the first wave of resistance soon after breaching the main entry corridor—Entil guards in pristine, white armor, their helmets crafted to resemble the faces of their gods.
They were tall figures with long hair tied to a pony tail sticking out of their helmets. Their slender physiques made them appear like the Fey. In fact, it was believed that the Entil were descended from the Fey, though less magically attuned.
Their tactics were aggressive, each strike meant to protect their sacred ship at all costs. Yet despite their speed and agility, the soldiers were no match for the Imperators.
The Imperators didn't hesitate. In a blur of swift, silent strikes, they dispatched the guards, leaving cyan blood all over the floor.
With each step forward, the Imperators dispatched their foes with brutal efficiency. Kato broke through an entire squad in seconds, his strikes precise and unrelenting. Zara deflected incoming shots with swift precision, her focus unwavering. Ji moved through the chaotic battle like a shadow, picking off guards before they even saw him coming.
To a normal human these soldier would be unstoppable, however to the ferocity of the Imperators the Entil fell apart.
As they entered a massive chamber lined with columns engraved with the alien symbols of the Entil pantheon, the team suddenly stopped. The corridor ahead was flanked by two tall figures in black-highlighted armor, standing as silent sentinels.
These were not ordinary soldiers—their armor was intricately decorated with deep carvings of their gods, each symbol darkened as if etched in obsidian. Black capes hung from their shoulders, trailing down their backs, and their helmets bore visors shaped to resemble the solemn, stern faces of Entil deities. Unlike the others, these warriors held themselves with calm composure, as though waiting for a worthy challenger.
The twins simply stood still, waiting for the Imperators to make their move.
Without any hesitation, Sahaad fired his gun, blasting the soldiers with hundreds of bullets. One of them simply drew their blade and cut through all the bullets in a lightning fast motion.
Sia recognized the threat immediately. "These are no ordinary guards," she muttered, tightening her grip on her weapon. "They're temple guardians… elite protectors."
Kato grinned, adjusting his stance. "Been a while since we had a real challenge."
The twins raised their swords, pointing them directly at the Imperators. Though no words passed between them, there was a message in their stances, in the quiet, focused malice in their gaze. They had been trained to defend this ship, this sacred mission, with their lives—and they intended to do just that.
The Imperators lunged forward, meeting the guardians head-on. Ji darted to the right, firing a shot aimed at the closest twin, but the Entil moved with almost preternatural speed, deflecting the shot with a flick of his sword. Zara, quick on her feet, went low, trying to destabilize one of the twins, but he sidestepped with a graceful pivot, bringing his sword down in a vicious arc that Zara narrowly dodged.
Kato took on the other twin, his brute strength meeting the Entil's agility in a fierce clash. Sparks flew as the two clashed, Kato's heavy strikes blocked by the Entil's deft parries. The alien's movements were fluid, almost dance-like, contrasting with Kato's raw power.
Sahaad assessed the fight in a flash. He could see the slight hesitations in the twins' patterns, the subtle glances they exchanged before adjusting their stances. It was clear they fought as one mind—linked, reading each other's moves.
"Ji, Zara," Sahaad called out, "focus on one at a time. Break their unity."
The Imperators adjusted instantly, shifting their attacks to isolate the twin on the right. With coordinated strikes, Ji distracted him with feints while Zara aimed precise shots at his vulnerable joints. Overwhelmed by the relentless assault, the twin faltered for a split second.
Ji saw the opening and drove his blade into the Entil's side, piercing the armor. Suddenly, the twin's figure flickered out, leaving nothing in Ji's blade.
Sahaad could barely register what had just happened before his whole world turned upside down.
"Is…that my body?", he muttered weakly, watching his body stand in front of him,missing its head, as he tumbled to the floor.
In one swift motion the entil warrior had beheaded Sahaad, splayed out of Sahaad's head as he lay motionless on the floor.
The loss of Sahaad hit the team like a shockwave, leaving the Imperators momentarily stunned as they watched his headless body collapse, lifeless on the floor. The air grew thick with rage and sorrow, and without missing a beat, they poured everything into the fight with relentless fury.
The Entil twins, unfazed by the sight, remained poised for the next assault, their eyes coldly gleaming from behind their god-marked visors. The one who had beheaded Sahaad stood almost mockingly, his blade dripping with the evidence of his lethal strike. Ji and Zara exchanged a fleeting look, a silent vow passing between them. This wasn't just a mission now—it was revenge.
Sia, her face a mask of barely contained fury, took action with a fierce desperation. Without a moment's hesitation, she tore her own arm free, circuitry-as the armor ripped apart- sparking wildly, and hurled it at the other Entil twin. The Entil hesitated, momentarily thrown off balance by the unpredictable move, as the arm ricocheted off his blade with a loud clang. That split-second was all Kato needed.
With a roar, Kato charged forward, his frame colliding into the alien warrior with brutal force. The Entil managed to thrust his blade deep into Kato's abdomen, and the strike drove a gasp of pain from him, blood pooling from the wound. But Kato didn't flinch—instead, he tightened his grip, ignoring the blade tearing through his flesh, locking the alien in an iron embrace.
The Entil struggled wildly, driving the blade in further, but Kato only tightened his hold, his muscles straining as his bear hug grew impossibly fierce.
A sickening series of cracks sounded as Kato's immense strength finally overpowered the alien's armor. The Entil's mask began to crack, and cyan blood poured from the seams, the alien's gasps becoming wet and labored. Kato could feel bones snapping, the alien's breaths growing faint, until, with a final, grisly crunch, he crushed the Entil warrior in his arms. The alien's body slumped, a broken mess in Kato's grasp.
Kato released the lifeless corpse, his chest heaving, as his wounds slowly began to mend, the Imperator's regenerative abilities kicking in. He staggered, momentarily weakened, but the rage in his eyes never faded.
As Kato finished his brutal kill and turned back to his teammates, a chill ran down his spine. A strange, unsettling coldness drifted through the air, so sharp and sudden that he paused mid-step. He turned slowly, rejoining Sia, Ji, and Zara, his senses now on high alert. The cold seemed unnatural, almost like an aura of sorrow and rage that pressed down on them, amplifying the silence that had fallen over the battlefield.
There, just beyond them, the surviving twin knelt beside the broken, bloodied body of its sibling. Its armored fingers traced the lifeless form with a reverence that seemed at odds with the creature's earlier ferocity. The remaining twin's head was bowed, and a low, guttural sound emanated from it—a mixture of mourning and anger that set the Imperators on edge.
"Did it… get faster?" The thought passed through each of their minds, unspoken but felt. Sahaad's death had been swift, the twin's blade moving with precision too fast for any of them to counter. And now, as the surviving Entil lingered, its posture tense and his form shrouded in eerie silence, a different, potent energy radiated from it—like a deadly calm before a storm.
With a trembling hand, the surviving twin reached down, gently unmasking its fallen sibling. Beneath the helmet, the female Entil's face was revealed—a vision both mesmerizing and haunting. Her skin was a deep crimson, smooth as polished stone, her alien beauty almost Fey-like.
White markings traced over her cheeks, forehead, and chin, winding in sacred patterns that seemed to glow faintly, like ghostly remnants of her spirit. Her expression, even in death, held a strange peace, as if the battle had brought her closer to some eternal serenity.
The surviving twin, her own voice now unmistakably female, broke the silence. "With this, my dear sister," she whispered, her words carrying a quiet reverence, "our vow of silence is done. I shall finish what you started and join you in the Divine Plain."
Her voice was soft yet filled with a lethal calm that sent chills down the Imperators' spines. As she rose to her full height, she placed her fallen sister's helmet gently beside her body, a silent farewell. Then she turned, her gaze locking onto the Imperators with an eerie composure that belied the fury simmering beneath.
Gone was the feral energy she had shown before. Now, a deadly calm radiated from her, as though the very air had thickened with her resolve. Her hands shifted into a ready stance, a sleek blade in each grip, her posture exuding a quiet promise of vengeance.
The Imperators knew, without a doubt, that they were facing a being reborn through her loss, no longer merely an enemy but a warrior devoted to a cause larger than herself. This was no longer a mere battle—it was a reckoning.