| abstract | - The unending silence of deep space was shattered by the arrival of a host of fighters. They were small and streamlined, each with two Thundersight blasters fitted to the underside and a thin tailfin on the back. The ships belonged to the Disciples of Vradok, a group of ritualistic terrorists devoted to an all-powerful - even in death - deity, and their mission was simple - find New Krano Nui and destroy it. So far, their search had been unsuccessful. At the back of the formation, a black-armoured Mersion activated his comlink. "Lord Vahliin, this is Hordika Four. A bogey has appeared four kios to the rear." The squad leader, a tall being known as Vahliin, responded. "Hordika Four, this is Lord Vahliin. You and Hordika Six will break formation and investigate. Over." "Over." Almost immediately, two of the fighters spun around and headed in the opposite direction from their team-mates. The others would have to wait for them to come back before returning to base. After several minutes, the two fighters rejoined their comrades. Hordika Six, a Vorgaan heretic with a knack for bioengineered explosives, checked his dashboard chronometer. It was a long time since they had left Remus Magna, their last stop, and he was running low on fresh oxygen. Unlike the rest of his squad, Vor Sxe'cahn was an organic being, at least partially, and was much more reliant on food, water and fresh oxygen than the others. It was almost like a curse during missions such as these. Only Captain Python could really understand that fact. "Hordika Squadron, this is the OSV Shadow Plague. Prepare to dock at Hangar Bay Twelve. Over and out." And there it was - the OSV Shadow Plague, the largest space vessel in Vradok's fleet. It was huge, brimming with the latest weaponry, and home to more than one million Disciples of the dark lord. From a distance, Vor thought it looked like a Laser Crossbow with fins and a massive block at the rear. This "block" was the matter/antimatter reaction engine. It relied on a small pocket dimension for its fuel, the dimension itself replicating the matter and antimatter at an impossible rate. It would power the Shadow Plague until the end of eternity. Vahliin activated his comlink once again to address the entire unit. "Okay, Hordika Squadron, once we land on the Plague, you have exactly one hour to prepare for the next mission. Over and out."
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