How now to begin, whither where, when, why, what for? To tell tall tales of starlight, Forthright Empire went to war. Erased from space the Dwald, left limbs cut, Collective dead. Assimilated another world, more room to rest our head. Yet our people pleaded “Praetor, can thee see how we entreat? This world will still not suffice!” So they built a bigger fleet. As a diplomat I sat amongst fleet fit for fire, not speech, set sail to Great Unknown, quadrant far from reach.
Sleeping still, stasis, slumber, perchance dare to dream? Of a creature conquered, of murder most obscene? Decades drifted by before felt hard hands ruffle fur, for what was I woken thus, why now must I stir? A diplomat was needed, so they called “Come, Kithrin! Shadrak ships sit before us, now your work will begin!”
Shadrak sought such slaughter, gave no quarter, battled well. Had fought amongst each other, brother battled sister, fell. Had harmed their home world, wherefore now would they go? Perhaps pirate, plunder space, erase then steal cargo? From world to world wandered, pillage village, cities too. For who could stop them then, like us, war was all that they knew.
Their leader clad in cotton, robe ran from feet to head. Where was armour chitin I’d come to expect instead? Where was the sure snarl, I’d come to know so well? He greeted me most mildly, “Hail, my name’s Dra-Fel. With fleet Ktar travelled far now 20 years here we stay. Not invade nor war nor raid; but warn what lies this way.”
“We found a fine pure planet, with wet water, such gold sand! We went to Earth to plunder! Blunder! Nothing went as planned! We thought humans so primitive, they had not mastered space! Yet warred well with each other, confused we mused “Worthless race!” With bombs we bombarded, rained death down from sky. Sent in our Ground Forces; they found new ways to die! Humans had no claws nor paws nor great big pointy teeth, but beat a heart almighty, they rose up from beneath. Men missing limbs limped on, desperate to fight fierce still. Mothers met Shad-Boar, bore rage rent meant to kill. And Elite Commando skilled killed hundred of our men! Battalions battled to drag down; he just rose to kill again!
They stole Control from our tower, with data disabled half our fleet! Shadrak such strong warriors, we still had to admit defeat! Soft skinned and so young yet admirable, that’s clear! They’d pushed the Shadrak back; beat in under an Imperial Year! Petrified, we cried, we fled, we left ships scattered behind! Underestimated our enemy, what worked within their mind. Our ships were not sacked, nor savaged, bashed or burned. They studied them so quickly, building more as they learned. They met us up above, swarm stretched beyond sight. Isolated primitive, multiplied what majestic might!
I looked upon them shaking, quaking, believed it was the end! Thought I’d met my maker, instead we met new friend. They had learned our history, of pirate, plunder, roam. They offered us place to stay, a purpose, pride, a home. And so know we guard them, amass’d as Shadrak volunteer. Driven part by admiration and partly by such fear! The Forthright Empire is mighty, we will still not let you past! Should you try to get by, we will fight you to our last! Maybe you’ll defeat us, perhaps to Earth will sail. Oh, such horrors await there Praetor, pray that you fail”