57911.15-0450 - "End of Days"

"End of Days"

Krolash Desert, Drokar

Stardate: 57911.15, 0450hrs (local time)

***

Senem Venta sat cross-legged at the campfire, sharpening the blade laying in his lap. The firelight danced off his muscular body, clad only in the traditional loincloth and boots of the Drevaki warrior. Seated across the fire from him was his son, Shadib. He was dressed similarly to his father, and imitated his motions of sharpening the blade in his own lap. This was an important time in his life, his quest for manhood. He and his father had journeyed far from the settlement, out into the desert, and he would make his first kill.

The desert night was peaceful. The skies overhead were clear, and filled with uncountable stars. A cool desert breeze caressed the two Drevaki's bodies, ruffling their bound ponytails. The only sound was that of night insects and once, the far-off howl of a hunting Gunthar.

Senem's ice blue eyes watched his son, pride welling up within him for the boy. Within a few days, he would be a man, and on his way to making his own way in the world. 

The night was shattered. The sky lit up overhead as if the sun had suddenly appeared, and there were the roaring sounds of craft flying overhead. 

Senem and his son leaped to their feet and squinted as the light faded, and then there was the explosion. From the direction of the settlement was another ball of light, and Senem knew it was gone. Blades in hand, the two began to run towards the settlement, but were stopped by the whine of transporter beams as a party of Romulans beamed in directly before them.

Senem didn't waste any time wondering who or what these creatures were. They appeared from thin air as the Rennari did, and were likely the ones who destroyed the settlement. He leaped forward with a battle cry, his blade taking the first creature by surprise and removing its head.

The whine of disruptor fire shattered the night air, and Shadib was the first to fall. He had stabbed one Romulan in the chest before he died, and the last thought Senem had before he too fell was that at least his son had died a man.

***

Achiram Glacier, Drokar

Queen Karlina of the Kothari stood upon the glacier, her long crystal staff in her hand. With her pale skin, pale blue eyes, and white hair, she appeared almost a ghost. Clad in thick furs against the cold, she watched in silence the glowing lights beyond the mountains. Every now and then her keen ears could pick out a dull boom from the distance. Something big was happening, but she did not know what. 

She watched as a figure came running towards her across the glacier. One of the scouts she had sent out to find the meaning of these lights and sounds. 

"My Queen," the scout panted, trying to catch her breath. Her features were grim, a fear in her eyes. "It's an invasion! Aliens from space have attacked. I saw their ships, attacking the Rennari outposts. What will we do?"

The Queen frowned slightly, her gaze moving from the scout back to the mountains, where now a faint puff of dark smoke could be seen curling into the sky. "The Rennari have brought this upon themselves," she said. "We will concentrate our efforts on concealment and survival, as we always have. The minerals in the mountains will protect us from their scans as they protected us from the Rennari, and none who come here will survive the Tunnel of the Winds. Recall all scouts, and withdraw into the caves. We will seal all entrances and go below. We will be safe."

"My Queen... I saw some of the ships heading off in the direction of the Drevaki lands," the scout added.

Karlina shook her head. "We cannot help them. We are too few, and too far from their lands. By the time we could warn them it will be too late, they will know. Begin the withdrawal." 

The scout nodded and hurried off to comply. The queen gave the surface world one last look, then headed inside the caves. 

***

Capital city of Kachivar, Drokar

Chaos reigned in the city. Smoke and fire rose into the night sky from the initial assault from the air, and ground troops were moving through the city killing. Disruptor fire and screams echoed in the streets. 

The Rennari weren't without defenses. It didn't take long for the citizens to take up arms to fight. Most used blades, leaping out from concealment at their enemies. Some few had beam weapons, and used them sparingly as they could. Some slaves aided in the fighting, seeing no choice but to help fight or die with their masters. Some fled, or tried to before being cut down by the invaders. But the Mind Sifters were the most deadly. They didn't need to see the enemy to kill them. From inside hidden bunkers or the remains of fallen buildings they attacked with their minds, and some of the invaders simply screamed and fell for no apparent reason. 

In the end, the city was overrun, there were simply too many of the enemy to fight off. As citizens were rounded up to be detained or simply executed, many went underground. The Vista Kla still lived, and was composed mainly of highly trained spies, assassins, and Mind Sifters. Already they were pulling back to secure areas of safety, and beginning to organize and plan to fight back. They would make sure the Romulans paid for every inch of Drokar in blood.