The Story of Zej

	Off in the universe on the planet of Valoran, part of the Vilorian empire, much progress was being done for helping aid the rather peaceful empire. This was one of the few world that the empire owned that they referred to as the “Industrial planets.” Those of the Vilorian empire new better than to completely industrialize the planet since they didn't want the planet to eventually kill itself from pollution, they would keep more than half of the planet mostly untouched and use it as living space while the rest was factories, cities and the like, keeping the proportions in check and keeping the planet stable. 
	However things would not be peaceful on this world for long as, with any empire, it had its enemies. One day one of its enemies would send a spy in to infiltrate the planet and sabotage everything they had going on the planet. This spy however would take things to the extreme... He didn't intend to only sabotage the work but cause mass genocide by causing their nuclear power plants to explode simultaneously. Though the spy was able to  plant and detonate his charges he  underestimated just how much of an explosion it would cause. The resulting blast would take out most of the planet's surface and leaving a very sizable dent in the planet as well. The Vilorian empire would quickly send rescue ships to salvage and save what was left of its citizens and work, putting much more emphasis on the citizens that survived. Afterwords they would inform DUAL of the planet's inevitable demise which would quarantine the planet until all radiation had died down so that they could eventually terraform the planet and make it habitable again

	This however would not be the case since it would take several hundred years for the radiation to become safe to be in. Normally not much would happen over a few hundred years to what wildlife was left, they would either stabilize and adapt or go extinct. On the planet of Valoran however, the radiation would cause an unexpected result in most of the wildlife that was left and cause rapid mutations and evolution within the remaining species of the planet. Wildlife drastically changed: becoming those who hunt nearly all day, and those who mostly hibernate to conserve what little energy they got from food. This lasted until the mutated fauna would begin to encompass and grow over the scorched and desolate earth. The changes would continue rapidly still, creating more herbivores while the predators slept and when they awoke they would split into both omnivores and carnivores to help balance out what was happening. The changes would keep happening so rapidly that these mutations and evolutions were never perfect and would cause many species to either go extinct or evolve into new races that could handle the mutations better.
	There was one species though that would eventually stop evolving since it had a good balance, a  type of insect that became very humanoid like. Instead of gaining ways to directly kill their prey they would become smarter and smarter as the years went by until they eventually became sentient beings. These beings would eventually begin to encompass the planet and would soon find some of the remaining ruins of the Vilorian empire, even finding an emergency underground bunker in the living quarters of the planet that the empire forgot to check since the citizens told them there wasn't much there to take that was worthy of taking outside of food. These insecticides, which they would call themselves the Koran after making this bunker their capital, would teach them much about technology and they would try to do their best to replicate the pictures of the old cities that were left in the bunker. They didn't know how to make the metals and balding materials they had but they did their best with wood and stone, making many more towns outside of the underground bunker. This type of pattern would continue for many years until they were covering the entire planet, making them the dominate species of the planet. It was not perfect though... just like many of the other creatures that had their own flaw that was a product of the rapid mutations and evolutions. They all had very short life spans, females had even shorter ones. Not only that but eighty percent of females would die after breeding which forced the males to mutate a bit further and be able to carry the eggs internally until they grew large enough to be laid. Some males couldn't lay all eggs successfully either and would result in their deaths as the eggs grew too large and the children wold hatch inside, either dying themselves or treating their parent as yet another egg to break through, which many larvae would adapt and evolve to do so easily, making eggs and the carapace of their father's like paper to them. The Koran would also have more children that they could easily take care of as food and supplies was starting to become hard to come by which ordered the abstinence of breeding or the execution of several towns just to make room.
	Things wouldn't be peaceful for long though as the 	quarantine would be tested by DUAL to see if the planet was habitable... however they were in for a big surprise when they saw that the planet was lush and thriving with life.
	“What... how?” the head captain of the ship would say to himself. With a shake of his head he would look to his crew. “Alright everyone! Something has clearly happened here, whether it was natural or not remains to be seen. Take the ship in slow and send out several scout ships first paired with a skirmisher. Survey the land and report back WHATEVER you see!” the captain would order. His crew would waste no time in getting everything prepared and within only a few minutes the frigate would be in orbit and several ships would be leaving it in pairs as ordered. Every ship would soon discover that there would be small towns everywhere along the planet within clearings of the massive forests. They would all report this back to the frigate on open channels which would cause massive confusion amongst the crew of the DUAL frigate. The Koran would all be terribly frightened by seeing the fast and loud ships fly overhead, fearing that it might be another new creature to have evolved on the dangerous planet. Many towns would order emergency evacuation and try to make their way to the capital city, those much farther away would go to their own underground cities which linked many of the towns together.
	“Sir, it looks like these... bugs... are all starting to condense in one spot... we can't locate where though. They all keep disappearing as they're moving,” one of the scouts would report. 
	“Second that over here... I'm fifty clicks east from him and they're doing the same here,” another scout would report, this similar message would echo several more times by other scouts. 	“Orders sir?” one of the fighter pilots would ask. The captain would pause and turns to a crew member and say, “Do a focused bio scan, find out where they're going.” The crew members would type away at their keyboards and align their scanners to one sector of the planet. After a few seconds they would get a display of the sector of the planet. On the display there would be a large blob of color inside of the planet's crust with several lines stretching out, showing where they were all coming form on the surface.
	“Captain, it would seem like they're going underground. Perhaps they have a larger hive within the planet?” one of them would explain. 
	“This would seem to be the case,” the captain would state before pausing to consider the next course of action before speaking again, “Get me a line with HQ... we cannot proceed without instructions from higher ups. It's obvious that these insects are of a high enough intelligence that they have a plan such as this.... That or perhaps they have swarm mentality through some kind of link. Regardless we need to continue to assess the situation from afar for now.” With their new orders the communication's officers would begin to set up a transmission back to their HQ. The scout planes would all eventually return back to the command ship as they had nothing to spy on outside of the buildings that were on the surface.

	In the underground bunker, which was now the central Koran hive every person would be scrambling and slightly panicking while the higher ups would do their best to keep their people in line. Further inside in a large, central hub of the massive bunker there would be an assembly of the main Koraxian leaders, a total of 20 in all. Each of them would be adorning a special ornament to represent their tribes. A few of them even had special paint on their carapaces as they were conducting important affairs before the panic set in. 
	“Th-this is t-t-terrible... th-these new cr-creatures... they are going to c-c-consume us all!” one of the more perturbed leaders would shout. Her usual twitching getting much worse due to her fear of these unknown entities that suddenly appeared on their world. “They scream... not even trying to hide... they want to take over... subjugate us!” Another would say mid panic. “Everyone c-c-c-calm down! We need not panic-c-c-c s-s-s-so quic-c-c-ckly...” Another one would say as his many mandibles would twitch and click uncontrollably at times. “Thes-s-s-se things-s-s-s have yet to attack-ck-ck-ck any of us-s-s-s. With everyone in here we s-s-s-should be s-s-s-safe.... but in the meantime we need to arm and ready our s-s-s-soldiers-s-s-s,” he would continue to explain. “You... you're right Zej,” the first leader would say. “How c-c-can you be so calm!? We are under siege!” The second would shout, obviously not as to soothe his fears as the first. “Zej-j-j-j is not c-c-c-calm... Zej-j-j-j IS-S-S-S c-c-c-collected however. There is a difference-ce-ce-ce,” Zej would point out. “We need to... to.... to... to know what we're up against... what if.... if.... if our warriors cannot fight them? We.... We.... We cannot send them all to the slaughter,” another leader would point out. “She is right... but how can we learn what they are?” the sixth would ask. “Perhaps-s-s-s-s... the anc-c-c-cient race of the before time knows-s-s-s what thes-s-s-se things-s-s-s-s are?” Zej would propose. “You'd-d-d-d think we would-d-d-d've found something on these d-d-d-dangerous and powerful things beforehand-d-d-d!” another new voice would chime in. “Perhaps-s-s-s... but it's-s-s-s always-s-s-s-s poss-ss-ss-ssible we miss-ss-ssed that anc-c-c-cient tome,” Zej would reply before looking out the window towards the massive crowd outside. “Zej-j-j-j-j does-s-s-s know that we don't have time to look-k-k-k-k for that knowledge now... We need to help k-k-k-keep everyone c-c-c-calm,” Zej would point out. The room would fall silent before they all would nod. “Zej... has a... a..... a point. We... We.... We must attend to our people,” the fourth leader would state. With that all the leaders would leave the assembly room and begin to split up to try to cover as much space as possible to be heard as they addressed as many people as they could as they explained what was discussed in the conference. For a moment it seemed to cause even more panic as many of civilians would look and desperately hug or try to prevent the friends and family that were warriors from leaving the crowd, not wanting them to go on such a suicide mission. The Koran were not meant to fight such daunting creatures and everyone knew that but there simply was no choice in the matter. With the announcement and command issued almost every warrior would begin to head to the armory that they had inside the massive bunker after saying their, possibly last, goodbyes.

	Back on the command ship communications with HQ has finally been established and their orders were as followed: “Approach the insecticides and judge their intelligence and sentience levels. If standards are met continue on peacefully with learning about these creatures. Otherwise eradicate them.” With that said a vanguard of “peacekeepers” would be made and deployed at one of the tunnel entrances. Once at the tunnel entrance a perimeter would be set up as they would send a single scout to check things out, not wanting to pose TO much of a threat. While this scout would seem relatively unarmored he would be wearing a very strong barrier generator and was augmented with cybernetics to make him several times stronger than normal for his species. As he traveled down the tunnel he would notice that the tunnel would become a bit “organic” as he traveled down. The more it changed the more paranoid he became. His paranoia was not unfounded though. The Koran replace much of the dirt they dig out with this substance, which allows them to navigate the tunnels quickly and could even serve as trap doors at times... which in this case they were. They were extra tunnels and trap doors for the now deployed warriors to wait in preparation to ambush whatever came inside. The Koran weren't' really expecting anything to come in since these creatures were so massive but they were deployed in case of anything since these “creatures” were unexpected to begin with and they did not know what else, if anything, would come. However the Kroaxian's suspicions would be founded as the warriors that were lying in wait would find these “creatures from the sky” now inside and outside their cave systems. They could tell that these beings were intelligent like them which made this all the more frightening for the Korax. However if they WERE this intelligent then this could mean they might be able to negotiate with a hostage... the one sent by himself. The group that were in charge of that tunnel wold coordinate to set up a trap for the trooper to walk into and become immobilized by both a weak poison and a sticky solution, the organic material that the scout was already walking on before it hardens. As the trooper walked down the increasingly dark tunnel he would activate a glowstick to help him see in the tunnel. However the moment he did he would feel something drip on him. After looking up he would see that it was coming from the hardened, organic material and simply respond with “Ew.”  This distraction was all the Korax needed to ambush him, bursting from the organic material both above and beneath him. HE would let out a loud, echoing scream as the Korax above him took hold of his hands as the one below him stabbed both his legs with a thin, hollow tube filled with the paralyzing toxin. While it was weak it was extrmely fast acting and he would fall to his knees as the Korax would add one more needle right into the base of his neck. However the armor on the soldier's neck would prove much more durable than the ones in the back of his knees and the needle wold break.The one below him would chitter in both fear and anger before attempting to put the soldier in a sleeper hold. However there was one flaw to this entire plan: the fact that this soldier was cybernetically enhanced and he wouldeasily shrug off both of them, delivering a powerful headbut to the one behind him while tearing off the arms of rthe one holding his hands. The one who was headbutted would have his head crack open easily, killing him on the spot. This took the soldier by surprise for a moment though. He hadn't expected these creatures to go down so easily nor to be so fragile. He was barely evne trying and yet he killed one and ripped the arms off of the other without even grabbing his arms to begin with. The Korax that was still alive would scream and panic, struglging to crawl away with just one arm left. “m-m-m-m-ust... get... h-h-h-h-h-help.... w-w-w-w-warn the hive!” he would chitter as he scurried off, finally gaining the moment he needed to get onto his feet and bolt down the tunnel. This took the soldier by an evne bigger surprise... these bugs knew the common tongue. “What was going on here?” was the only thought in his mind right now, not evne the fact that his legs refused to work. Though that realization would come to him soon enough as he heard his radio go off. “Kilpo! What's going on down there? We heard you scream,” a voice said over his radio, his commander in particular. He would put two fingers up to the side of his head to activate the transceiver and reply with, “Everything is fine now... but.... we have a problem... Two actually. I need you to get me... I can explain the other issue once you get me out of here.”
	“What's wrong? We need information Kilpo,” his commander would say. Kilpo would just growl a bit and say, “Sir! With all due respect I CAN'T MOVE! I NEED A GODDAMN EVAC NOW!”
	“For fucks... we're on the way,” the commander would say before he heard a click and only had radio silence. In the course of fifteen minutes they would get to Kilpo and get him back outside and get his story.
	“So that's what the issue is... I don't like this captain. How would these things know the common tongue?” Kilpo would ask. 
	“I don't know Kilpo... this is strange indeed. I mean... sure this used to be a Vilencian Forge World, or VFW, but.... no thats just a longshot...” the captain would say as he got a strange thought. “Could it be possible that... these things found some relics of the Vilencian empire?” he would suggest to which Kilpo would just shrug. 
	“Beats me captain... All I know is that these things couldn't put up a fight against us and they know the common tongue. I actually feel sorry for the things. I had no intentions of killing and mutilating the poor bastards,” Kilpo would say rubbing the back of his head.
	“Don't worry about it Kilpo... you found out the most important thing that we needed to know about these things. Now we need to tell the General and wait for word from DUAL HQ,” the captain would say before patting Kilpo on the shoulder. “We'll get you back to the ship as well to fix your legs as well. You did enough, he would add to which Kilpo would shake his head. 
	“Once again, with all due respect sir... I need to stay here. I was the first in and I intend to be the last out... plus... I feel like I need to apologize to one of those... things... I can see clearly now that they're scared of us sir. We need to tread carefully but not be scared of them. They cannot truly harm us... they just found the weakspot in my armor is all,” Kilpo would say both sternly and uneasily. His captain would pause before nodding, “I'll see what I can do Kilpo... just relax for now,” his captain would say before moving over to the communication relay to hail the ship. 
	“Attention Hammer of Djill. This is Captain Farstrider. We have news about these creatures. News that drastically changes things... They know the common tongue. These beings are obviously sentient and intelligent enough to learn our language. Sergeant Kilpo had an enocunter with the creatures and heard them speak. Rather than speak a native tongue they immediately used the DUAL standardized language. They are also of no threat and extremely fragile for insectoids. Sergeant Kilpo completely obliterated one of their heads with a backwards headbutt... and ripped the arms of the other even though it was the creature holding him and not the other way around. We request an update of orders... and... request permission to let Sergeant Kilpo go as an ambassador to these creatures.”
	After making such a lengthy announcement and request it would take several minutes for the general to make deliberations with DUAL HQ. It would take much longer than anticipated to receive an answer from DUAL HQ but when they heard back from them they got the answer most of the expedition force was expecting to hear: Make contact with these creature's leaders and get answers as to how they learned the common tongue and how they came to be should they know. Kilpo is also allowed to go with the designated ambassadors as he was the first to make contact with these creatures. Kilpo would let loose a sigh of relief after hearing this but would sigh in annoyance after hearing he would have to wait until they cured his legs before the ambassadors would move out. 

	After a few hours of waiting for the preparations to be complete; Kilpo, several other soldiers and a selection of official ambassadors would be gathered at the same tunnel that Kilpo entered earlier that day to head into the hive. This time around though they would be much more cautious since they had unarmed officials with them. The scouts and guards of the Korax would see this and report it. However they would be much to scared to even attempt anything. The fear of seeing a group of these massive and heavily armored creatures heading through the tunnels AND having such creatures block off every exit from the hive set not only the soldiers into a panic but the civilians and the leaders of the Korax as well. The conference room was a breeding ground of paranoia, fear and anxiety at this point. “It's over... It's OVER!” one of the leaders would keep saying with a varying level of tone, from crying to anger, to whispers to shouts. A few of the leaders would be in this same mindset and were considered hopeless as the last few rational leaders would gather amongst themselves to figure out what to do. 	
	“We're... we're.... we're trapped down here... down here.... down here... what... what... what can we do?” one would ask, fear obvious in his voice and his twitching more apparent and worsening. 	“What CAN we d-d-d-do Trixa? One scout easily d-d-d-dispatched two of our soldiers without trying,” another leader would respond, unable to help but hold his hands together to stop his fingers from twitching uncontrollably. “We doomed us all... we gath-th-th-th-ered all of us in one spot for th-th-th-them to hunt us down,” he would continue to say.
	“No... we did what we all agreed to do Pik,” Zej would speak up, “Zej-j-j-j-j believes-s-s-s that we did the right thing... Zej-j-j-j just thinks-s-s-s that... perhaps-s-s-s was-s-s-s predes-s-s-stined.”
	“What are you talking about Zej?! How could th-th-ththese monsters be our fate?!” Pik would say, almost ready to hit Zej for saying something so insane.
	“What Zej-j-j-j is s-s-saying... is-s-s that... if we are to die...in this hopeless-ss-ss-ss manner... let us-s-s-s just s-s-s-see what will happen,” Zej would explain, hanging his head in sadness. It was obvious that he felt so defeated and gave up on fighting back. Seeing the obvious expression and mindset of Zej would silence the other leaders and they would hang their heads as well.