Hello! I am really, really sorry for not posting a chapter for a while. I have just had a busy week, and not much free time. In any case, I will not keep you waiting. Onto the chapter! Huzzah! The dark forms of a dozen seeders, outlined by the stars and faint sun, hurtled towards the surface of Ganymede. After a slow descent, they slammed into the ground, a few embedding themselves deep into the ground. Spilling out like plague, the lithe, bony forms of hundreds of Hive broke out of the crash pods and flowed across the ground like a calamity towards a dark, gaping hole in the ground, where an enormous armored knight waited to escort them inside. Once the monstrosities were gone, an orange-hued scope slid out of view, and the sound of metal scraping against rock broke the eerie quiet of the Jovian Moon. “MORE HIVE HATH COME, MINUTIA.” A hulking Titan in yellow and red hued armor observed in his deep, steady voice. “I noticed that, Seb.” Minutia said dryly. “The Hive are on the move, and they have a reception waiting for them. That's where the lair must be.” She continued, emotion picking up in her voice. “Hold on, Min.” The voice of a warlock in purple and black robes said. “We need a plan, we can't just barge in there. That sounds like something I would have done, a few weeks ago.” Min turned inquisitively. “A few weeks ago?” She asked Lyla. “Things change quickly. But I learned from one of the best in the business, and he's been a mentor to me through thick and thin. Even though he's still trying to figure himself out.” Lyla explained. Min lifted her white-and-orange NEW_DAWN_063 sniper rifle back up to scout out the enemy. “Well, I'm working on a plan.” She continued. “But whatever plan we come up with, we must locate the Hive Nest in order to strike it.” “Agreed. But the plan comes first.” Lyla pressed. Min nodded. “Plan comes first.”, she agreed. “LADIES.” Rumbled Seb. “A SHIP COMETH.” He was right. An enormous Cabal transport ship was lowering itself to the surface of Ganymede. “Dark deeps.” Cursed Lyla. “What are Cabal doing in the Jovians?” “LADY LYLA, THE MORE IMPORTANT QUERY MAY BE: WHY HAVE THE CABAL COME TO GANYMEDE?” Seb corrected. Lyla grunted. “Well, that's not to hard to figure out. The Skyburners are the intelligence operatives of the Cabal, essentially, so they must be here to study the Hive. But why would it be that important? They could have just sent a harvester if they wanted.” Min thought for a moment. “Perhaps there’s more to it than just intelligence gathering. Maybe they know something we don’t.” They were all silent for a moment. “Well, we came here to do recon. Let’s do recon.” Min said, strapping her rifle to her back and trekking down towards the Hive nest. “AGREED.” Seb rumbled. “WE MUST DO AS THE CABAL DO, AND FIND THE MEANING OF THIS.” Lyla grumbled. “So much for surveying the enemy.” she muttered, and ran up to join them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drip, drip, drip. An icy flow of water dripped slowly down, melted by the heat of dozen hot forges burning with molten metal. The growls, moans, and groans of many creatures echoed through the dark chambers of the Hive Forges. An enormous knight, a helmet forged from a dark hued metal on his head and a hammer in his hand, used his enormous strength to bang yellow-hot-pieces of metal into armor and weapons for the Hive. A line of Eliksni and regular Hive slaves worked under the watchful eye of a dozen spike-backed knights, their clawed hands on their sword pommels, their green eyes flickering back and forth lazily, watching their charges load enormous hunks of raw metals into the forges. They heard the screeching note of a portal being opened and closed, and then drifting solemnly into the chamber, the robed and armored figure of Syor came. The Knights at their positions knelt, and in fear of being crushed like insects beneath the enormous sword the Warrior-Witch wielded, the slaves bowed as well. “Gryaor… how goes the forging.” the Witch-Queen rasped. “Excellently, my Queen.” the Knight-Smith responded. “Our mining on our other bases still remains strong, and the flow of material and minerals has not been lacking. Your Grace will see the product of my work on several of our Brood in the corner of the Forges, if she wishes to do so.” Syor turned her hooded head and gazed at half a dozen Knights, armored in dark colored metal and wielding metal-forged-Cleavers. Their bright green eyes blazed from inside shadowed helmets, and from their backs a small little platform was formed into the armor, protecting their spiny backs and giving lesser hive a chance to be thrown into the fray by a greater one. “Prepare your Knights, Gryaor. Light bearers have been seen above the surface, and they are likely coming below in order to scout us out. Cut them down. Make this your first Tribute to The Forsaken King.” Syor hissed to the knight encouragingly. “STOP THE FORGING!” bellowed Gryaor. “We will earn our glory, and perhaps even ascend, if we fight these Light Bearers.” The armored knights roared, and in turn two score of acolytes and thrall mounted the platforms on their backs, and shrieked with bloodlust. “Throw yourselves against them… in the meantime, I will do what matters. I will speak with my beloved.” Syor murmured. She cut a wound into the the Ascendant Realm, and floated through it, towards her betrothed. On the other side, she entered the realm of stars and midnight… into the throne world of Kirax, the Forsaken One, king of the Forsaken Hive, and king of her heart. “My dearest.” she crooned to the enormous black and light blue throne and the enormous figure in it. “I have come.” A voice like continental plates grinding together made the air tremble with power, a voice that almost made those who heard it want to submit to it. “Do you bring me news?” the beast asked. “Yes, my love. But I also come for you.” she said, drifting over to his enormous body. They embraced, and he wrapped his enormous, bone-hardened arms around her robed frame. They loved each other deeply, they would die or live for one another until the end of the universe, they would conquer and destroy until there was nothing else to conquer or destroy, and their worms consumed them. “Bearers of the accursed Light have come to our new home.” Kirax’s armored body glowed green with the light of his hatred, and he slammed an enormous fist on the arm of his throne. “THE LIGHT. WE HAVE INVADED THIS SYSTEM IN SEARCH OF IT, BUT NOW IT IS WHAT COMES FOR US. IT IS TIME FOR US TO REVEAL OURSELVES. I AM OF THE GOD OF WAR, NOT THE COWARDLY TRICKSTER.” the Forsaken One grated out between his sharp teeth. “Indeed, my love. Come with me, then, to our new fortress.” Syor agreed softly. The Forsaken King stood up at his full height of 30 feet, his blazing blue green eyes burning in the land of darkness and starlight. “Tonight, we eat the Light.” Kirax said, calmly. CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS