Astra's family villa rose on a rocky hillside, surrounded by a lush garden where nature was subordinated to technology. Huge, bioluminescent trees with spiraling crowns cast delicate reflections on the building's translucent walls. Paths of synthetic stone, illuminated by subtle LEDs, wound between beds of exotic plants whose leaves changed colors to the rhythm of the setting sun. A waterfall hummed at the edge of the garden, fed by a hidden system, creating the illusion of wild nature in the heart of a high-tech planet.
The house was a masterpiece of minimalism - transparent and metallic surfaces came together in perfect harmony. Panoramic windows revealed a view of the valley, where bioluminescent fields lit up the landscape like the earth's aurora borealis. Inside, the interiors were decorated with simplicity and functionality, though every detail betrayed incredible precision workmanship. The walls were smooth, cool beige in color, and the furniture floated above the floor thanks to advanced electromagnetic technology.
General Caelus, stood on the terrace, looking out over the sprawling landscape. His gray hair was combed smoothly, and his severe facial features gave him the appearance of a man who knew the taste of both victories and defeats. His uniform, perfectly pressed, shone in the light of the setting sun. His hands, folded behind his back, betrayed tension. He was a man who had seen much and experienced even more, but now he felt an uneasiness that spread over him like ripples on the surface of a calm lake.
Behind his back, in a spacious office, a quiet signal sounded. The general turned slowly and walked inside. A holographic message flicked on the dark wood desk. He touched one of the panels, and the silhouette of his daughter appeared before him. Astra was wearing a dark gray tunic with reflective accents, and her glossy white hair was loosely loose.
"Father," she began in a calm but firm voice. "If you are watching this message, it means that I am no longer on Vellis. I know you don't support my choice, but I had to do it. You left me an inheritance of inquisitiveness and steadfastness, so you can't blame me now for wanting to know the truth."
An image of the archive where Astra spent long hours appeared on the screen. The interconnected frames from her research showed fragments of records about Earth, Atlantis and long-forgotten wars. Every word, every line of text seemed to shout to General Caelus, reminding him of the past he was trying to protect from his own daughter.
"The earth is not only our past, but the key to our future. You won't understand it now, but know that I'm doing this not for myself, but for all of us. Know that I am ready for the consequences. You have always been an example of strength and determination for me. Now please respect my will and don't try to stop me."
The hologram went off, leaving the general in dead silence. His hands clenched into fists, and his gaze shifted to the empty terrace outside the window. He knew that his daughter did not throw words to the wind. She was always relentless when she set her sights on a goal. This time the goal was Earth.
He ordered the security commander to be summoned. A few minutes later, Commander Eryon, a tall man with a dark complexion and military physique, appeared in the office.
- Find it," the general chuckled in a cool tone. - Search the docks, the airspace, the ports. Astra must not leave Vellis.
- Yes, General," Eryon replied, saluting and leaving the room with a speed worthy of a trained soldier.
Caelus was still looking at the dome covering the city when the office door opened again. Eryon had returned faster than expected, which could only mean one thing - news. His face, as usual devoid of emotion, however, betrayed a slight tension.
- General, we have a report from the Erisa spaceport," the commander said, straightening to attention.
Erysea was one of the main ports on Vellis, located on the southern continent. It was where the planet's largest hangars and interstellar docks were located, and ship traffic was monitored with the precision of an atomic watch.
Caelus nodded, encouraging him to continue.
- It was reported that a "Sol" class ship was launched from the D-17 hangar. According to our data, the ship was hired by a person using false documents. The surveillance cameras showed... - Eryon stammered for a moment, as if weighing his words. - They showed the Astra, general.
The general felt his stomach tighten like a steel vice. He turned away from the window, his gaze piercing the commander to the core.
- How is this possible? How could she take the ship out without an alarm? - he asked, and his voice, though calm, trembled with anger.
Eryon swallowed his saliva, clearly unmoved, but determined to answer.
- It seems that Astra used her access privileges. We did not manage to block her ID in time. We intercepted transmissions from the flight control tower. She left the atmosphere of Vellis and headed toward Sector 14-Delta. - The commander pulled out a small holographic projector and activated it, showing the ship's trajectory. - This is where we lost the signal. It probably went into an interstellar jump.
Caelus stared at the pulsating lights on the hologram. He knew his daughter. He knew she had been planning this move for a long time. Every detail had to be thought out - Astra never acted impulsively.
- Sector 14-Delta... - he muttered under his breath. His mind immediately recalled a map of the system. That's where the Halcyon mining zone was located. He knew the colony - a chaotic, unorganized world full of smugglers, mercenaries and outcasts of society.
- When did she leave the planet? - He asked, although the answer was only a formality.
- Six hours ago," Eryon replied. - With such assumptions, she has already reached Halcyon, if that is her goal.
General Caelus took a deep breath, and his hand went to the communicator on his desk.
- Prepare the "Raven" class ship for immediate takeoff," he ordered. - I will lead this mission myself.
Eryon looked at him with evident surprise.
- Ladies, this is dangerous. Halcyon is not the place to send commanders of this rank. This... - he began, but his words were interrupted by the general's raised hand.
- This is my daughter," replied Caelus in an icy tone. - And your job is to prepare the crew. I will not let her die in the chaos of that world.
The commandant nodded and ran out of the office, leaving the general alone with his thoughts. Caelus turned to the window again. Deep down, he knew that Astra would not die - she was too intelligent and too strong. But Halcyon... Halcyon could turn even the noblest souls into rotten carcasses. And that scared him the most.
The general straightened up, gazing at the lights of the city that spilled over the horizon.
- Astra," he whispered. - Why did you have to choose this particular path?
The sky of Vellis seemed darker than usual that evening, and the first flashes of an approaching dust storm appeared on the horizon.
He stood motionless for a moment, then pressed the communicator.
- Eryon, to my office. Immediately.
A three-dimensional map of Vellis and surrounding sectors of space appeared on a large holographic table in the center of the office. Bioluminescent lights gently illuminated the room, giving it an almost mystical feel.
The door slid open with a hiss, and Eryon entered with a quick step. His upright posture betrayed respect, but also slight concern.
- Did you call, general? - He asked, saluting.
- Sit down," ordered Caelus, pointing to an armchair on the other side of the table. Eryon sat down, and Caelus leaned over the holographic map. - Change of plan. I have an assignment. I want you to gather the best people from our intelligence service. It's about those who can be invisible and elusive.
Eryon raised an eyebrow, but did not dare to interrupt.
- Find Astra," Caelus continued. - Use every means available. Ports, interstellar space, black holes. Dig through Halcyon, if necessary.
- I understand, general," replied Eryon. - Do we have any clues as to where she might have ultimately gone?
Caelus pressed a button on the console, and the collected data was displayed above the table: ship trajectories, suspicious transactions at ports, reports of unregistered flights. It was all piecing together an intricate web of information that could lead to the location of Astra.
- Remember," warned Caelus, glancing at him from under his furrowed brows. - She's my daughter, but she's also part of Vellis. I won't let anything happen to her. I want her to come back in one piece. Is that clear?
- Sure, general," replied Eryon, rising from his seat. - We'll give it our all.
When Eryon left the office, Caelus stared at the holographic map for a long time. There was something painted on his face that might as well have been anger or concern.
- Astra, why did you have to make me do it? - he whispered, looking at the twinkling stars on the display.
The general stood up with a heavy sigh, and his footsteps echoed through the spacious office. The metallic glow of the holographic map reflected on the walls, creating disturbing patterns, as if the universe itself was mocking his situation. He approached the wide window, which offered a view of the Vellis bioluminescent fields lit up by night. The same fields that once gave him a sense of stability and peace now seemed almost alien.
He opened a small cabinet hidden in one of the walls, taking out a bottle of amber liquor - something stronger, imported from one of the neutral trading worlds. He poured a few drops into a sleek, minimalist glass and took a seat at his desk. The alcohol was cold, though it burned his throat with a force that momentarily drew him away from thoughts of Astra.
- Why, Astra? - he muttered under his breath, staring at his silhouette reflected in the glass. - Why did you have to choose this path?
Several hours passed, the General sat in his office, with his arms resting on a massive steel desk. Thoughts swirled around him like ferocious predators, each one tugging him in a different direction. Astra, his daughter, on Earth? The vision was not only a personal blow, but also a potential disaster for all of Vellis.
Caelus knew what the discovery of their planet by the people of Earth - eager for expansion, brutal in their methods, never insatiable. The people of Vellis, though technologically advanced, had avoided conflict for centuries. They chose isolation as their shield. The general could not allow his daughter - even if unknowingly - to break this rule.
The report on the holographic screen flashed suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. The face of one of the spies appeared before him, clearly pleased with himself.
- General, we have a lead. Astra stayed at a motel on the outskirts of one of Halcyon's mining towns. We have identified her companion - a former veteran of the Thirty Years' War. Records show that he is Alexander Varneas, a smuggler and mercenary. They moved together in the direction of Red Harbor.
Caelus squinted, staring at the screen.
- Red Harbor," he repeated, and his voice was like a blade cutting through the air. - That's probably where he plans to get the ship.
- It seems so, General," replied the spy, straightening up instinctively under the weight of Caelus' gaze.
The general leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest and stared for a moment at a holographic map of Halcyon, which marked Red Harbor as a pulsating red dot.
- Send our people there," he recommended coolly. - The best we have. They are to stop it before it leaves the atmosphere. But keep a low profile. Astra must not know that we are on her trail.
- That's right, Mr. General.
- And remember," he added before the message was completed, "the priority is her safety. If one of my men puts the mission above her, I will personally make sure he realizes his mistake.
The connection went off, and Caelus stood up, walking over to the window. He drew in the air deeply, trying to control his emotions. He knew that Astra had not taken this decision lightly, but her actions threatened everything they had been building for thousands of years.
"I won't let that happen," he thought. "You will not reach Earth. You won't bring their plague upon us."
He stepped out onto the terrace, looked out over the Vellis landscape, calm, perfect - and ready to put up a fight if necessary.
After a few moments, he returned to his office, where new intelligence data appeared on his desk. Holograms showed maps of the Halcyon sector, and among them were detailed diagrams of Red Harbor, a port that for years had a reputation as a mecca for smugglers and outlaws. Caelus stared at the tangle of docks, alleys and bazaars. The place was like a maze full of rats.
- I will find you, Astra," he said quietly, and his voice was a mixture of determination and pain.
A new message from one of the spies flashed on the console.
- General, we have confirmation - Astra reached Red Harbor with this smuggler. We have their approximate location, but the trail breaks off. The port is too densely populated and the monitoring systems are unstable.
Caelus stared at the face of the man on the hologram. His icy stare caused an unconscious twitch in his subordinate.
- Bribe whoever it takes. Every trader, every technician, every fucking thief in Red Harbor is to be questioned. And if any of them try to wriggle out.... you know what to do.
- Yes, General," the spy replied, and the connection went dead.
Several hours passed, Caelus' office was drowning in semi-darkness, only the soft glow of holographic screens illuminated his stern features. The air was thick with tension, and the sounds of Vellis' bioluminescent fauna, usually soothing, irritated his nerves this time.
A familiar message signal sounded. The general, without taking his eyes off the map of Halcyon, waved his hand, activating the connection. The face of one of the spies appeared in front of him - a young man with a dark complexion and a sharp look, whose uniform bore the marks of a recent action.
- General," he began, not hiding his nervousness. - I have news.
- Speak," ordered Caelus, his voice cold and emotionless.
- Astra... has left Halcyon. The last trace comes from the old part of the port. She captured a ship that left the atmosphere a few hours ago. It disappeared from our radars.
The words echoed through the office. The general was silent for a moment, and his face betrayed nothing. Only the slight movement of his jaw indicated the tension that was building up inside him like a storm.
- How is this possible? - he finally asked, and his voice sounded like thunder.
The spy swallowed saliva, as if trying to collect his thoughts.
- We identified the ship - "Faithful Dog." It belonged to a trader from Red Harbor. Probably Astra and her companion, "borrowed" it. I'm sorry, General, but.... we were too far away to make it in time.
- In time? - repeated Caelus, his voice becoming increasingly icy. - I have the best people in the system, and they let my daughter disappear?
The spy lowered his gaze, unable to withstand the force of the general's stare.
- I'm sorry, general. We have done everything we can.
Caelus turned to the window, looking out at the peaceful landscape of Vellis. His fists clenched and his breathing became heavier.
- "Faithful Dog, you say?" - he finally asked, and there was steel determination in his voice.
- Yes, sir, general. We are working on determining its trajectory. The ship was supposed to be designed for interstellar travel, but its systems are old. Maybe we can predict where it's headed.
- I know where he's going," Caelus interrupted him, turning slowly toward the hologram. His gaze was now like a blade, cutting deep into anyone who came across it. - Earth.
- What should we do, General?
Caelus did not speak for a while. Finally, he nodded, as if coming to an inevitable decision.
- We are sending a pursuit. But we have to act discreetly. I don't want the people of Earth to learn of our existence. If Astra gets there first, it will have disastrous consequences.
The spy nodded.
- That's right, Mr. General.
The connection went out, and Caelus was left alone again. He stood in silence, looking at the space outside the window. Earth, the planet of their ancestors, was now his daughter's destination. And he had to do everything to stop this nightmare before it became reality.
Astra sat on the edge of the narrow bed, staring out the tiny window, which showed only the endless blackness of space, punctuated by occasional streaks of stars. The quiet hum of the ship's engines gave the interior a rhythmic backdrop, but chaos reigned in her mind.
She rested her elbows on her knees, intertwining her hands, and her face betrayed a mixture of anxiety and determination. She knew her father must be furious - the kind of anger only a general could carry within himself. And although he was a disciplined man, when it came to her, he often lost that iron control.
"He never understood me," she thought, clenching her jaws. "He always saw me as his little daughter, a part of his world that he walled off from everything but the atmosphere of Vellis. But I ... I wanted something more."
She leaned with her back against the cold wall of the cabin, closing her eyes for a moment. She remembered their last conversation, his cold, categorical "Earth is no place for you." There was no room for doubt in his voice, but Astra knew that she was no longer a child he could direct.
"Dreams," she thought, smiling bitterly. "He never had them. Everything he did had a purpose. A plan. Orders. And me, I just want to understand who we are. Where we came from. Why we abandoned Earth."
But now that she was on her way, she couldn't stop thinking about the consequences. Her father was certainly looking for her. General Caelus was not a man who accepted defeat. She knew him too well to think he would let go. He was capable of sending his best men to find her, and would do anything to bring her back to Vellis.
"Should I tell Alex?" - this thought did not give her peace of mind. She stared at the small lights on the console by the door, looking for an answer that no one could give her.
Alex was smart, it's true. He was a veteran who had survived more than one thing. But what if she finds out that her father is a general of an ancient civilization, a man with enormous influence? What if she decides it's not worth getting involved?
She sighed heavily, putting her arms over her chest.
"I can't back out. I'll do anything to get to Earth," she thought, straightening up. "I have to try. I have to see the Earth."
She glanced at the cabin door, behind which Alex was busying himself somewhere in the ship, probably browsing the cockpit console or emptying another bottle of bourbon.
"Maybe tomorrow I'll tell him," she finally decided.
She stretched and rested her head on a hard pillow. The engines hummed in a monotonous rhythm, and Astra gazed at the stars outside the window, feeling the weight of decisions that were yet to come.