Space War!

Yet another teaser from Maroli Tango. Enjoy!

The first chapter of a story is always the hardest to finish, even when last words have been written.

Anuraga Media’s first installment of Unseen was burdened by an elephant in the room, a twist if you will, motivation to rush the backstory with documentary footage, the void of space, the glitter of stars, a giant spaceship firing lasers, subtitled communications chatter.

Visceral. Trust the audience to get the idea. Jump right in.

In the studio, Jivada Cadre General Emmet Thorson waved hands at a spellbound Myra Fowlkes. He said, “We didn’t know diddly-squat about the Unseen 35,000 years ago, and we still don’t.”

Myra said, “The fleet couldn’t see them from space?”

“Nope. The sons-of-bitches were living underground, planet dark, radio-silent, the whole bit. Stumbled on them by accident.”

“Was the fleet off course?”

“They didn’t know where they were going in the first place. No organization, scattered all over, trying to figure out how to travel as a group. Go, stop, reassemble, go again. Whoever’s first to pop out of N-Space turns on a beacon and waits for the others.”

“On the day of the fight, Stone Harbor emerges first, and Mahacamu right after.”

“Six light years apart. So, ‘Camu and Harbor are having a chit-chat, and five unrecognized cruisers drop in. No warning, the cruisers start shooting, and just like that, Harbor goes quiet.”

“Displacement missiles?”

“With matter conversion warheads. Flashed inside the ship through N-Space, blew out hatches, wrecked the interior. Everyone on board is dead or dying, but Stone Harbor’s Deck Zero was hard on all sides.”

“So, Harbor’s Oma survived.”

“Maneuverable, able to see, and in the fight. He kills two cruisers, and the rest run away.”

Emmet rubbed at his muzzle. “Didn’t take long to find them. They were no match for Advaita Vedanta. Upanaya took them out in orbit over the home planet, then nuked and scorched every heat signature on the surface until the atmosphere was so saturated with particles the ranging equipment wouldn’t work anymore.”

“Did Upanaya intend to wipe them out?”

“No, but that was an outcome our generals were willing to accept.”

“And Stone Harbor …”

“Drifting toward the galactic center, bearing the remains of forty-three thousand Anye pilgrims.”

The studio scene crossfaded to an image of a distant planet, dark side facing the camera, continents aglow with artificial lighting.

Emmet said, “And the Unseen did not perish.”

“Do they have space flight?”

“Yep.”

“Roswell, 1957?”

“Funny story. One of our cargo ships gets shot at in high orbit, takes the other guy down, decides it had to be one of those damned fools left over from the troubles in 1929.”

“And doesn’t report it.”

“Naw, and why would he? So, Earth Watch was doing a shitty job watching the Earth in those days, doesn’t notice the U.S. military picking up wreckage in New Mexico until two days later.”

“Which the Air Force still denies knowing anything about.”

“They’re getting a visit from Terra Cadre right after this show hits the air.”

Myra nodded. “And Terra Cadre will tell them …”

“Cough up the merchandise.” Emmet made a crooked smile. “We need to look at it.”