Bryn Shander
18-04-2008, 06:12
Night was falling on the planet of Perden, (nicknamed 'Purr-Den' by its inhabitants), a grand twilight covering the land in soothing darkness, signifying the return of the workers to their families for another evening.
"Papa! Papa!"
Darkat had heard the meows and cries of joy that came from his children even as he walked the winding path to the front of his home. The work on the communal farm had been difficult this year due to the weather, and yet they had prospered still. Hugging his kittens and then embracing his wife, all the troubles of his day melted away as he rejoined that which he worked so hard for. No more was it evident than tonight, the fourth century since the planet became free. Since they became masters of their destiny.
Dinner came and went quickly as everyone prepared to go watch the stars, and as they sat in the grass under the starry sky Darkat told his family a story he told every year. How many hundreds of years ago his people were born by chance from furless creatures of dull senses, and how they prospered in secret under the yoke of an oppressive and uncaring god. Freedom came when their numbers had swelled enough to chase off their mundane oppressors, and for four hundred years they had known only peace and prosperity. It did not matter that they all had such different forms, they loved freely and revelled in their united individuality.
"Look father! Look!" his youngest feline child cried out, pointing to the sky as the sky lit up with what seemed to be the appearance of many stars. Darkat did not understand, nor did he know why falling stars seemed to emerge so suddenly as well, and in such large quantities. Truly, it could only be a sign of their true gods and their love for them.
Aboard Velsharoon, Admiral Tarve stood beside the Inquisitor Coleman, as the two watched from their viewing portal the surface of Perden begin to burn and boil under the sustained fire from the sizable fleet's orbital barrage. Four hundred years ago the mutant population that had swelled thanks to decadent and unrestrained breeding had rebelled and overthrown the planetary governor, and denounced the King in a tide of blood shed for animalistic rituals. Now their ancestors would pay the price of their corrupt forebears.
"It is a shame such an agricultural world shall burn because of the scum upon it" Tarve remarked, glancing at the Inquisitor who stared unblinking at the firestorm below them, the light of the fires below so intense the Admiral swore he saw it flickering across his face.
"Such is the stain of the mutant to corrupt all it touches. Perden wrought a cruel form on its people" remarked the Inquisitor, his face showing no hint of regret or sadness at the weight of what he had ordered, "But these are traitors also, and in such great numbers you can only defeat such loathsome parasites by killing the host they feed off like the bloated ticks they are. None shall survive to spread their taint to another world"
That was enough for Tarve, and the pair watched the end of another world in satisfied silence.
"Papa! Papa!"
Darkat had heard the meows and cries of joy that came from his children even as he walked the winding path to the front of his home. The work on the communal farm had been difficult this year due to the weather, and yet they had prospered still. Hugging his kittens and then embracing his wife, all the troubles of his day melted away as he rejoined that which he worked so hard for. No more was it evident than tonight, the fourth century since the planet became free. Since they became masters of their destiny.
Dinner came and went quickly as everyone prepared to go watch the stars, and as they sat in the grass under the starry sky Darkat told his family a story he told every year. How many hundreds of years ago his people were born by chance from furless creatures of dull senses, and how they prospered in secret under the yoke of an oppressive and uncaring god. Freedom came when their numbers had swelled enough to chase off their mundane oppressors, and for four hundred years they had known only peace and prosperity. It did not matter that they all had such different forms, they loved freely and revelled in their united individuality.
"Look father! Look!" his youngest feline child cried out, pointing to the sky as the sky lit up with what seemed to be the appearance of many stars. Darkat did not understand, nor did he know why falling stars seemed to emerge so suddenly as well, and in such large quantities. Truly, it could only be a sign of their true gods and their love for them.
Aboard Velsharoon, Admiral Tarve stood beside the Inquisitor Coleman, as the two watched from their viewing portal the surface of Perden begin to burn and boil under the sustained fire from the sizable fleet's orbital barrage. Four hundred years ago the mutant population that had swelled thanks to decadent and unrestrained breeding had rebelled and overthrown the planetary governor, and denounced the King in a tide of blood shed for animalistic rituals. Now their ancestors would pay the price of their corrupt forebears.
"It is a shame such an agricultural world shall burn because of the scum upon it" Tarve remarked, glancing at the Inquisitor who stared unblinking at the firestorm below them, the light of the fires below so intense the Admiral swore he saw it flickering across his face.
"Such is the stain of the mutant to corrupt all it touches. Perden wrought a cruel form on its people" remarked the Inquisitor, his face showing no hint of regret or sadness at the weight of what he had ordered, "But these are traitors also, and in such great numbers you can only defeat such loathsome parasites by killing the host they feed off like the bloated ticks they are. None shall survive to spread their taint to another world"
That was enough for Tarve, and the pair watched the end of another world in satisfied silence.