TRAX WAR

Time: 07:30 Central Earth Time

Location: Three million light-years away

Location: The Husker Star Group in deep space

The planet Necropolis, this universe’s burial planet, is a dry, desolate place, far off in the Nimar galaxy. Twin dying suns slowly rise in the distance, as thick red fog slowly dissipates while the planet warms to a new day. Warm southerly winds howl constantly from the breathtaking orange mountains far off in the distance. This day’s blazing sunlight is an uncommon rarity since the planet is usually covered in thick, dense red cloud cover.

Flowing down from the mountains are many glorious streams of icy blue water. The water is filled with exotic fish, uncommon plant life, and extraordinary crustaceans. They are all so beautiful and abundant. Unfortunately, they are full of poisonous toxins that can kill a person in an instant if touched. The poisons that flow through them give them an eerie, florescent glow. It is so beautiful yet so mysterious. They swim freely among the plant life while waiting for the beginning of the new day.

There are massive ruins off in the distance that came from an ancient civilization that has long since disappeared. This planet was once a great civilized world. You can tell that by the far-reaching ruins that are still scattered everywhere. Unfortunately, no written records exist because all paper has turned to dust. Something cataclysmic happened here because the evidence is everywhere.

Nothing can ever grow here since the soil is so thoroughly contaminated by biological fallout from the ancient war fought eons ago. This occurred when most of this galaxy’s worlds were still in their infancy.

Necropolis is known for its soft, sandy, green soil, which has not been seen anywhere else in the universe. Unfortunately, it is good for only one thing, and that is burying the dead. There is an old saying: “A warrior buried on Necropolis never dies in battle alone; someone will always have his back.”

Many alien races have used Necropolis for eons as a holy place to bury their fallen warriors. Since no weapons can ever be used on this planet, they know they can bury their dead in peace.

Many races have tried, but all have failed. The reason: this desolate planet has been placed under a state of temporal grace. This was done by an ancient group known as the Time Lords. They were an ancient alien race which disappeared long ago. All of them vanished except for the One, who wishes not to be found.

Millions of tombstones are spread all over the planet in all shapes, types, colors, and languages. They can be found scattered throughout every part of this planet. Many are still set like the day they were placed. Even though centuries have passed, they stay perfectly pristine. Why? That is because the planet is taken care of by a race of ancient robots, which no one has ever seen.

All who have set foot on this planet know this is a place for mourning and remembrance, nothing more, nothing less.

As the morning winds blow, the thick fog dissipates. A fully armored humanoid male can now be seen on the surface of the planet. He has his head down and is kneeling over a recently dug grave. His face is fully covered because the area is still very windy. He then looks skyward to the heavens to see three huge battle cruisers hovering above.

The micro-fine sandy soil still penetrates his protective eyewear, so he blinks a few times to get the fine green sandy dirt out of his eyes. He then lowers his head. “Now, it begins again, my fallen friends! I will never forget the sacrifice that you made for me! Death before dishonor! Long live the Cosmic Federation!” he shouts with great honor.

He defiantly stands, gives one final salute, slings his plasma rifle over his shoulder, touches his arm com, and instantly beams back up to his command ship. The battle cruisers then turn toward the Interstellar Jump Gate and engage their engines. A deafening roar can be heard on the surface as the three ships soon disappear. Only they know where their destination is.

Back on the planet’s surface, a slender female emerges from the shadows; she, too, looks down at the graves, sheds a lone tear while touching one of the grave stones, and then quickly beams off the planet. There is now nothing left alive on the planet’s surface.

After they depart, the haunting sounds of ancient bells continue to ring in the distance. They are being rung by the howling winds that never seem to stop. Necropolis is a dead planet once again.

Strangely, the winds on the planet suddenly stop as silence now reigns supreme. Regrettably, this will only last for a short time since the winds have merely shifted as a huge storm front moves in from the east.

Shortly after the second figure beams off the planet, a small ship enters the jump gate. Is it following the same path as the battle cruisers? Is she following the grieving soldier? Who are they? No one knows, but they will be back. They always come back to bury their dead.

Suddenly, a huge thunder clap explodes above, shaking the entire surface of the countryside. A massive green lightning bolt strikes the ground nearby, exploding a fallen tree into a million pieces. The skies turn dark in an instant. As heavy blue rain starts falling, soon the footprints in the sandy soil are ominously washed away. Amazing to some, it’s like no one was ever there. Once again, this planet makes you understand it is a place only for the dead. The ancient war long ago took care of that. Shall we remember? Yes, we must remember what happened on Necropolis, or we will be sure to duplicate it.