I've found myself in a highly concentrated nebulae with swirling dark clouds. The periodical lightnings turned the deep space into a purple glowing work of art. It was astonishing that all this was made by themselves. I was told, that they've activated two remaining artifacts of their creators, which created this artificial nebula environment.
So this is home for them. The most eastern point of Sirius. The forgotten edge system Omicron Iota.
My insatiable thirst for knowledge brought me here. It seems like some human traits aren't completely manageable by the Incubus. Like curiosity in this case. However, I came here to learn - to understand. Even though my mind is the prison of my own, I'm interested in them. As if I'd be one of them in reality. I'm not quite sure if this is a locigal result of the infiltration or a personal change. They've already explained a lot to me in my dreams, but I weren't able to accept the truth before I've seen it all by myself. Another human trait, which one can't simply get rid of. So I've followed their inviting call.
Xerna - the place where the history of their new home began. On their escape from the brutal humanity, they settled down in Iota, far beyond the edge of Sirius. A safe place where they can recover from the war. A place they were used to, since they've lived there before already. Though they were facing a serious problem: The lack of energy which was required to maintain their fleets and infrastructure. The two stars' energy weren't even capable of keeping them alive, even less for giving them the chance to rebuild something. And so, against their nature, they were forced to use a planet as energy source. Planet Xerna was their only choice.
They've burrowed deep into the icy planetary crust were they exposed the planet's core, for using it as their only energy source. Though, with that operation, they've turned Xerna into an uninhabitable planet-large asteroid. However, they didn't cared about, since their lifeform was used to life in open space. And so they have, and still do, use Xerna's core for providing them enough power.
After that, they've created that amazing nebulae, which was the result of two artifacts detonation, which also unintentionally formed a completely new star. It didn't took long until almost whole Iota was engulfed in the thick nebulae. The icy wasteland, which was caused by the dropping temperatures due to the core's yield, was no more inhospitable to any lifeform but Nomads. So they began with the construction of the system infrastructure using leftovers from earlier expansion periods.
And last but not least, they've built Dur-Shurrikun whereby also the telepathic grid got restored. This superstructure is the source of the contradicting rumors of which I've already heard of before I got infected. This alien city, for most humans not more than a fairy tale or myth, acts as a central node for the Mindshare, a nexus and stabilizer. The "city of light", how it is called by them, is guarded by a massive impenetrable shield, deadly defense platforms and last but not least, countless of their most lethal guardians.
I was amazed when I finally entered their last hometown. Although they prefer zero gravity environments, the city has several sections with static gravity and air flowing, which allowed me to visit it. To my suprise, I've even met lots of other infectees, who actually lived there, waiting for their next tasks or study to use alien technologies and learn their ways. As I will do. For sure I'll stay a few days here, learning more about this awesome structure, which primary role is to act as powerful transmitter for the Mindshare. Knowledge will enhance my third eye, for that I will have it for the rest of my life.
All the rumors and myths about the Altair Research Facility seemed to be true. That large complex was once a secret project of Liberty government, which served the purpose of learning alien technology and using it for military purpose. Of course they did it secretly far away from Liberty space, beyond the edge worlds, in the uncharted and inhospitable Iota system, since any leak would have caused a political disaster. The station was designed to be self-sufficient and completely automated, a sealed vault where scientists and militarist could live.
During the nomad wars, they've abandoned Altair and deleted all the related documents and datas in fear of the consequences. Thus Altair, became nothing more than a myth and was soon forgotten. But space never forgets. And soon, the K'Hara decided to temporarily settle down at the base remains, until they've found an alternative, a massive city, which is now known by the name Dur-Shurrikun. Today, Altair is more like a "last bastion" of them, where they saved all their knowledge, be it Nomad, Hybrid or even Human technologies. While most of the Nomads live at Dur-Shurrikun, many Infectees and Hybrids spend their days at Altair, constructing and doing research, for that they'll soon have recovered and regain strength to fight humanity once more in a face to face battle.
There I got welcomed by an infected engineer, who was into repairing and copying human space crafts for their use. He was quite eager for knowledge of what the situation currently is in Rheinland and Bretonia. So we shared our experiences, where he also told me about rumors of a major infestation inside Gallic core space, that the infiltration is progressing well. Pleased and amused by each others telling, he showed me his newest finding - a burnt out Series Z "Sabre" which was found and salvaged near the entrance of Iota. It was covered by black smuts, dark as the night, which gave it a scary appearance.
It suffered several deep scars at the bulky shiphull and all in all, it was more looking like a shadow of the ship itself, black as it was. Though he said, that it's still in good condition and that he were able to reconstruct all the vital systems. In fact, he turned it into a manned hybrid vessel. Unfortunately he hadn't really any use for it, since he hadn't found any eligible pilots for it yet. So I was quite suprised when he suddenly asked me if I'd like to have it.
Later, I got asked by a group of researchers if they'd be allowed to carry out investigations on my corpse and implanted Incubus' stage of development, which also included the ability of using the Mindshare more efficient in future. I knew that I'm in best hands, and so I agreed on their 'experiment'. As before I was able to be part of the Mindshare only as passive 'receiver', which was to blame to my rather recemt infestation, though what progress is to be accelerated by their methods.
Knowledge and history has proven, that specific events will repeat. Like the War of Sol, which had its beginnings in early 2100 AD and lastet till the 23. century with the Exodus. While humankind wasn't able to archive the details of the long passed ongoings, others were able to. Only a few of us had the privileged, of gaining access to those lost archives. Naturally under the given circumstances. That knowledge came at a high cost. But it gave answers to all of my questions, and there surely won't be any more in future now, since history just repeats.
It was this day, over a thousand years ago. The very same date. The 12.12.2212. And there's no doubt, that it's happening again. As we knew. Our plan simply cannot fail. Nothing can stem the tide. It is known, that in nine days, it will be happening. Time will be our attestor. Nobody will notice it, but the change will be true. We can wait. Sirius' destiny is written.
Louis Ledoux. He will be chosen. The preliminary appeared to be easier than I thought. Find a gallic pilot, get him lead you across the borders by either paying or forcing him, and once, being amongst them, find a suitable victim. Honestly said, I was respecting their defense area at first. Hadn't expected, that they're that careless, since I've heard different stories regarding their "Code of Conduct". However, after I've relieved my naive guide of a burden, I've took his spacecraft and headed for the populated stations, leaving my guide's corpse floating in open space.
I've decided to dock at Nimes Station, a Gallic Royal Navy base, to try my luck. The bar was filled with young marines, who seemed to just have finished their daily patrol, now ending their working day with a drink. A male Navy pilot, I guessed him to be in his mid-twenties, has drawn my attention. He was standing alone at the bar, having long gulps from his drink, while he stared at the wall. I made sure, that my female appearance would seduce him, and engaged him in a conversation. While speaking, it wasn't much of a deal to connect myself to his mind. He was a Capitaine aboard the RNS-Eglantine who got assigned to travel to the Battleship Oblique in Tau-44 to ensure the fallback for a mission, called "Fallen Grace". A few minutes later, I was sure that I've just found the optimal choice. Tomorrow, as predicted, history will repeat.
Everything went as planed. Step one was successfully. There's nothing which could stop step two, which is going to start today in two months. Things appeared even better than expected, since our target got accepted within the ranks of the primary fleet, which will give us more power for the future plans. For now, we'll have to stay patient, and wait for the right moment. By then, the infectee won't know about his destiny. We turned him into a ticking time bomb.
Meanwhile in the Omegas, I've managed to intercept an open transmission, where some Zoner offered a powerful artifact. It was clear, that we had to avoid it getting into the hands of anyone who knows how to abuse it for their will. We shall not fail to obtain it. If everything will go as planned - the artifact will be ours, and its seller dead.
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." Only a few were given the privilege to focus on it. And even less beings achieved the ability to emit the light. However, the way to revelation is a lonely one. Many fail to survive the first stage of infestation. They either go crazy and take their own life driven by fear and exasperation, or they reveal themselves before stage two starts, and they turn into laboratory rats. There isn't much choice in the end. Only the ones with strong wills can bear the pain. Unfortunately, as we know, the human being is a rather weak lifeform, and it's nature urge it to fight against foreign organisms, such as the incubus.
Therefore, the human is a bad host in their eyes. They'd surely select a superior being if there was one, rather than using the 'least evil'. It's our gift for humanity. Eternal life. Increased body regeneration. Telepathy. Those are gifts, given by gods. They rule Sirius. Of course they try to keep humanity in their believe, and manipulate them, so that they'll never ally oneself against us. We keep them weak and ignorant, being a minimal threat to us. Once the time has come, they will return, and repeat history. The Suncrusher will be ready. And so will we.
But first, the requirements for the return have to be performed. Everyone plays a role in this plan. Mine was to infiltrate, manipulate and infest the target. Now the observation has started. There's not much we can do for him now. I gave him the light, but he has to follow it by himself. I've sent out guards, which will secure his survival without letting him know. The third eye will watch his steps. And soon, he, Louis, will be rewarded. An 'angel's kiss' knows no return. It is final. The progress can't be stopped. They'll be pleased.
We are their shadows, watching their moves when they fight, when they eat and when they sleep. They can't trust each other anymore, they live together with their enemy within. They can't know it, they never will. That's our strenght. We remain undiscovered. Once the 'queen' has found the host, she sends out her warriors. Our drones are feared. They don't have their own will, and are forced to do exactly what we order them to. While the 'queen' stays safe at her nest, the abulic and lethal Scorpions do their best to fullfill the 'queens' wishes. Their deaths are not much of a loss, compared to what damage they cause.
Where humanity has failed - we succeed. And that story won't change. They were made to be the weakest link in the Milky Way galaxy. But to their advantage, they can survive in almost any environment. Eventhough they tend to destroy each other, caused by their thirst for power. This vulnerability shall be used to our advantage. Soon they'll regret their lack of care. But for now, we shall observe them. Our target has to stay safe until his time will come. The drones will clear the way and assure his safety. For that I, the 'queen' will be satisfied.
Bretonia and Gallia are an excellent example for humanities worst weakness. Wars. During a small-scale gallic assault on Planet Leeds, I managed to slip through the Bretonia main fleet and picked out a bomber squadron at the rear. After drawing their interest, I lead them deeper into the West Leeds Smog Cloud, where I finally revealed my 'disguise' to them. Unfortunately, they didn't lived long enough to contact the main fleet to be made part of that slaugther. Though, their quick death brought me to a vicious plan.
I disabled their wreck's emergency signals and installed a timer, set for tomorrow, delaying the possible rescue team to approach when I want them to. Maybe I'll even catch a transport with valuable cargo, who had the bad luck of being nearby at the time. That'd be much better to wait for, instead of more useless combat vessels. Patience is asked.
Am I still alive? Where am I? What happened? I must have had a blackout. But something has changed. I can't explain it, but somehow my consciousness feels freed... Oh my god, what have I done? That wasn't me! I got forced into this. 'They' had taken control of my body. Why is this happening now? Are 'they' observing me? This must be a test. What a hopeless situation. Either I try to find help and get rid of that alien inside me - or I play along their 'game'. For the former, the consequences might be, that they'll abuse my corpse for research purpose which would surely mean my death. Besides, I'm not sure if that alien inside me can be removed that easy. It has been part of me for too long already. So at first, I guess it'd be wiser to not tell anyone about the truth, until I know what this is all about.
That's all so confusing, that I didn't even took notice about my location yet. It appears like I'm sitting in an usual Wraith's cockpit. Well, I can only guess that it used to be such... It's a miracle that I've survived in this piece of scrap for that long already. As far as I know, the emergency power supply and oxygen will last for like 48 hours, depending on how long I already sat here. My ship's engine are totally scrapped and so I'm definitely stranded here... After risking a quick view out of the cockpit, I saw the result of a massacre which might have taken place a hour ago. I count eight floating wrecks of Bretonia Armed Force fighters. Did I do this? It was pretty obvious that none of those survived, since their on-board systems showed no activity at all... except for their emergency systems, sending frequent signals. Oh no.
Time is running out. The oxygen reserve tank just went below 0,5%. That means less than 15 minutes left. Maybe death is even the best solution. But why should they let me die out here? What made the alien parasite 'deactivate'? Did it die? Why haven't they searched for me - or the parasite even? There are so many questions, and it appears like I won't be able to get to know the answers. I wished I could have seen my parents a last time. Would they forgive me? Do they even miss me? Could I actually return to them, in face of what I've done to everyone? I doubt it. I was given the destiny to die alone.