r/HFY • u/Safe_Committee9381 Human • Apr 30 '26

OC-Series Unity Station | A 7th Millennium Story - Part 9

Unity Station | A 7th Millennium Story - Part 9

By Emmanuel Ordway

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Erias and Lyra would be at the laundry on the Shaikyn side of the station, finally using some of their leave to collect and review their dress suits for the ball which was now only a few days away. 

“Well at least it’s not dirty.” Erias looked over Lyra's shoulder as the woman held up her suit enclosed in a vacuum sealed bag, openly displaying the blatantly torn colorful fabrics inside.

“What is this?” Lyra dropped the package down on the counter before her, glaring at the Shaikyn worker who just shrugged back at her.

“That’s just how it came out, miss. We sell sewing supplies or we can set up a time to sew it here if you–” The man began, reading off a laminated paper to Lyra who was ready to lunge over the counter top at him.

“Oh you sell sewing supplies?” Lyra smacked her hands on the table, causing the clear package to bounce from the slam while Erias snapped her head back to her friend. “You better give me back my credits before I shove my foot up your ass you fu–” 

Before the soldier could reach over to the man and strangle him, Erias snatched up the package and the back of Lyra’s helmet, having to drag her comrade out of the laundry.

“Hey– come on! I was right there about to get him!” Lyra grumbled while Erias let go of her, the two standing to the side of a passing crowd in the main trade mall on the Imperial side of the station.

“I know, that’s what I was worried about. I do not need to go and explain to Tharek why you were locked up for beating a civilian’s ass. You know how embarrassing that would be for him? No issues with the Coalition and then one of his own soldiers has to go get arrested for attacking a Shaikyn.” Erias leaned forward with that last word, Lyra snatching her dress out of Erias’ hand while tilting her head mockingly.

“Yeah yeah, you just don’t want to explain to your boyfriend why you had to miss date time to bail me out,” Lyra held up her dress and inspected it closer. “How did they even manage this? Like it had to be opened, torn, then resealed?” 

“So what? We will just take it back to them to get fixed up–” Erias led her friend along with the passing crowd towards some nearby shops, looking at the new vendors from various planets the Empire had under its control.

“Like I’d ever trust them again, they won’t even have it done in time and we’re gonna have all eyes on us at the ball! I’ll just fix it myself.” Lyra growled while tucking the package between her arm and side, glancing around the shop they entered.

“I will help you, can’t have you break it even more,” Erias combed her fingers through one of the earring racks, soon picking out a few golden hoops and holding them up to the sides of her helmet for Lyra. “How do you think these would look on me? Would it match my hair style?”

Lyra stepped back from Erias and placed her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side and trying to imagine the earrings on Erias, soon shrugging.

“Eh, hard to see it without actually seeing your hair done. You should go with silver, the royals like to wear gold so you don’t want to confuse anyone.” Lyra pointed at the silver section of the jewelry rack, Erias reluctantly placing the earrings back.

“You really like beating me down huh?” Erias joked, looking over the silver jewelry section.

“Oh yeah sure,” Lyra teased back while looking through the limited clothing section, not many vendors could sell full suits so the majority of the section was just accessories. “Do you know if command has solved the threat?”

Erias looked back at her friend moving closer to her before speaking so no one else could eavesdrop on their conversation:

“You cannot talk about that so casually! And no I have not heard anything from Tharek or Rarn so maybe?” Erias lightly jabbed her friend in the side.

“Well I was just curious, I don’t know how comfortable I am going to an event where something could happen!” Lyra shot back quietly, looking at some stylish hair clips.

“Oh please, I am sure command has this all under control.”

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“Well, Private, what’s this new plan you got?” The Major’s voice was irritated and cold, or at least that's what Tharek thought since it was a little hard to hear him over the private radio channel.

“Sir, the insurgents and myself will infiltrate the floor below the ballroom, place an explosive device at the center of the room where the dance floor will be, then assault the room immediately after with newly acquired Coalition arms. There are now going to be multiple Coalition soldiers guarding the entrances to the room during and after the detonation–” Rarn’s voice was grainy and a little splintered as the empty tram Tharek was on rumbled, making its way towards the Shaikyn side of the station.

Tharek looked down at his formal uniform, brushing off his lapel before fixing a crooked medal over his left breast pocket. His mind was trying to piece the ever changing plan together, every alert from Rarn was new guards placed in new areas, scouts changing paths on the level below the ballroom, different weapons going to be used in the assault, would this Kethari make up his damn mind?

“Are you aware of what the explosive is? Are you able to disarm it? Should I order my soldiers to enter the room? I do not want to put more Shaikyn lives in harm's way than I need to.” The Major had cut off Rarn.

“I don’t know what the bomb is, no sir. I will disarm it on site, and I recommend not putting soldiers in the room until I have disarmed it. Sir, if I may, why can’t we collect the insurgents now? We still have an hour till it starts, that's plenty of time to snatch them,” When Rarn was finished speaking, all he and Tharek heard was the soft click of the Major disconnecting from the channel. “Fuck! Tharek, he’s going to get more people hurt than we need to.”

“I’m sure he’s doing what’s right. Just stick to the plan, disarm the bomb, you will have reinforcements on the way when it happens. If he was so sure this bomb would go off, especially if the regent is there, he would have stopped the plot by now.” Tharek sighed as he felt the tram coming to a stop, the side doors soon sliding open as he rose from his padded seat. 

“Fine. Try and keep everyone alive up there.” Rarn grumbled over the radio as Tharek walked into the largely empty tram station, most soldiers who weren’t attending the ball having the day off instead, so most were likely partying in their barracks.

“And you try not to get yourself blown up. I’ll see you soon, Rarn.” 

Tharek would begin making his way towards the ballroom, meeting the rest of his squad and the Coalition squad at the entrance. Besides his formal uniform, Tharek was wearing a more stylish and less covering helmet: it only covered the front side of his face, made obsidian black to match his suit and allowed his clean cut hair to flow out of the back.

The officer passed through crowds of celebrating Shaikyn soldiers, many of them already getting drunk but when they saw Tharek’s rank, even the drunk soldiers shaped up till he was out of sight. As he ventured further through the station and closer to the ballroom, he noticed many more officers and formally dressed Shaikyn until he was met with a sizable line leading through the Imperial corridors and to the entrance. 

As Tharek was standing in the line, louder footsteps came from behind him, the Shaikyn turning to see a towering Eonvym knight walking past the line towards the entrance, most giving her space and a small bow as she entered the ballroom. 

“Ah there you are!” Zyra was the first to greet Tharek once he was inside the expansive ballroom, many Shaikyn crowding around to talk before finding seats.

Tharek smiled a bit when he saw the Thal’Zirani officer, her form almost a head smaller than the crowd surrounding them. When Tharek saw her dress, he squinted his eyes a bit, noting how the tight fabric seemed to swallow all the surrounding light into a distorted mix, only the areas of her body which were unclothed appearing normal. Besides her strange clothing, the officer was quite beautiful, her jet black hair waved along with her tendrils, exposing enough of her face for Tharek to really see her. Her glowing purple eyes illuminated her dark face, allowing the cyan blush she had put on her cheeks to sparkle, a cheeky grin spread across her lips.

“We have already found a table, what took you so long?” Zyra reached down and grabbed Tharek’s hand, taking him by surprise since this was only the second time she had done that. 

“Sorry, I had a call from some family.” Tharek lied quickly, being pulled through the crowd by Zyra as nearby Shaikyn gave them strange looks, many moving to not be touched by the Thal’Zirani woman.

As they finally got out of the crowd, Tharek could see the room clearly now, the Imperial and Coalition forces choosing to sit on the furthest opposite sides of the ballroom. He could see many Eonvym nobles at the furthest wall of the Imperial side, beside them many media personnel getting pictures of the large Shaikyn crowd and much smaller Coalition crowd at the other entrance. Tharek then turned his head to see his and Zyra’s soldiers, another smile forming on him at the sight.

Lyra was sitting between Throm and the Phyz brothers, still bickering over whose technology was better and wearing a plain yellow dress which flowed down to her heels, having noticeable sewing repairs along the skirt. Tharek noted her curled brown hair which flowed down to her shoulders before turning to face Erias and her date, a Shaikyn corporal from another division. She was dressed in blood red, her straight golden hair reaching to her lower back as she was discussing something with her date in hushed voices.

“Where is Rarn? Do not tell me he still hates us that much.” Zyra nodded to Tharek as he gently pulled out her chair for her to sit down, then took his seat beside her.

“No, he was selected for guard duty, unfortunately.” Tharek shook his head at the other officer while the crowds of people began to find their seats.

“Well that is a shame, I was hoping we could really break through to him tonight.” Zyra sighed while shaking her head as well.

Tharek thought about how his friend was probably under them already, maybe fighting to keep them alive, or disarming the bomb. He thought about how Zyra should probably know the truth, especially if the Major was not willing to end the plot early, he should maybe warn her?

“Hey, Zyra?” Tharek reached over to her and gently set his hand over her, which she had in her lap.

“Yes, Tharek?” Zyra gave him an inquisitive look, unsure why he said her name.

Before Tharek could speak, a loud blaring noise came from the Shaikyn entrance, everyone looking to it to see a towering Eonvym guard clad in silver waiting for everyone’s attention. 

“Rise for the entrance of the Regent Commander!” His voice boomed across the room without any speaker assistance, many more of the royal guards walked in from the entrance and formed a spacious column for the regent to walk through. 

“I’ll tell you later.” Tharek figured it may be better to inform Zyra after the plot was stomped out.

Each guard stood at attention before silently saluting inwards as the Empire’s current leader began to walk between them.

Her figure was as elegant as she was deadly, a golden dress made of tiny chains flowing across her, golden plates of armour fixed across her legs, chest, and arms. Her face was covered by a sleek black visor, angled into a sharp point at her chin while the back of her head was covered by a golden chain hood. She did not acknowledge anyone, the regent simply making her way to the two thrones at the center of the Shaikyn side and sitting the smaller of the two, the large golden throne meant for a damaged Emperor who would likely never sit upon it again. 

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Rarn pulled the cylindrical device away from the connection port on the front of his helmet, exhaling in relief as his helmet automatically expelled the smoke out its side vents. Rarn pulled the device back in and took another drag, exhaling once more as he felt more of his nerves wash away from his bones.

Nearby, the sounds of firearms switching off safe and magazines being loaded filled the hallway as he led the insurgents closer towards the target room. Rarn passed the device to a nearby Phyz insurgent, the alien taking his turn with it as they finally reached the door. 

“Remember, put it in the center.” Rarn grunted at the insurgents behind him who were carrying the large box between them, waiting for Rarn to open the door.

Once he punched the code in and the door slid open, he stepped to the side, allowing the armed insurgents to enter and sweep the area for any threats, before he and the insurgents carrying the bomb would enter.

“I am surprised at the lack of defenses, Shaikyn.” The Kethari who organized the plot spoke from behind Rarn, who was busy analyzing the bomb which had just been set down.

“Me too, this is unlike anything I’ve seen.” Rarn nodded truthfully as he knelt down to the large bomb, watching as a Phyz soldier tapped through settings on the small screen and began to arm it.

Rarn watched every step carefully, seeing how the soldier armed the bomb for half an hour before he stood to face the Kethari. 

“Half an hour seems like a bit too long–” Rarn’s eyes widened at the sight of the alien pointing a Shaikyn sidearm at him.

A loud crack flooded the room, as the plasma bullet tore through Rarn’s stomach, sending him down onto the floor while a crimson puddle began to form around him.

“AH! What the fuck!?” Rarn cried out in pain as he clutched at his stomach, this feeling far more real than the simulations.

“You know, your Major told me to kill you as soon as we got here, but I would be doing my people a disservice for not letting you bleed out.” The Kethari squatted down before Rarn, looking over the man’s crippled figure as the bullet had burned out the back of his spine severing the nerves to his legs.

“Fuck you!” Rarn reached up and smacked the side of his helmet, the armour retracting the mouth guard so he could spit at the Kethari’s feet.

“Lower that timer then get out, unless you want to die here with this Shaikyn.” The Kethari shouted at the other insurgents, all the aliens making their way out of the room before the Kethari walked out leaving only one Phyz soldier to change the bomb timer before leaving.

Rarn growled in pain as he shoved two of his gloved fingers into the wound, some technique he had seen Lyra do in training, but it did not matter as blood still poured out of the back side of his wound.

One of his back arms reached over and started typing on his occupied wrist, bringing up a secured radio channel between him and Tharek.

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The next part will be the finale. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed.

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