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----Prelude----

The Baalasi sun shone and Eryan Tollin strolled forward, holding a small bundlein his arms. His eyes travelled down to his young daughter, Kara, only a few months old. Around him, wind slightly, making the leaves of the forest canopy move, along with the grass in the clearing, the small purple flowers dotting the area, trembling in the breeze. Close to them was the stump of a large tree, recently struck by lightning, charred, yet from the old dead tree new life would spring. Sitting down upon it he spoke quietly, "I know you barely understand the universe around you, Kara, but I hope one day you will grow to see it in the light itshould be seen. I may see or may not see you again, but if I do not return, take care of your mother for me".

Pausing to swallow up his emotions Eryan looked away then back to the child whoreached out toward him, speaking again, "I must go far away, across the stars to wherever I am needed to protect you and other children like you, along with their families from things i'd rather not have you hear or know of". A smile formed on the soldier's scarred face as he let out a sigh, eyes never moving away from his daughter. "You must grow up to be a hunter, you must learn to provide for the people as I have... remember that whatever happens, my mind will be with youand your mother".

Just as his arms held the child close, he looked in the distance, in the valleybelow, thousands if not tens of thousands of men and women gathered for what would be the last trip of their lives for some. Giant troop transports took up in an orderly fashion, the symbol of the Aquila painted on their sides, carrying the troopers of the Baalasi regiments toward the Navy vessels in orbit. Shaking off any negative thoughts, his head spun slowly only to see his wife Allia standing behind him, watching the scene herself. While rugged and strong, the people ofthis jungle world were known for their devotion to family besides their duty toward the Emperor. Allia's hand reached toward her husband's broad shoulder, squeezing lightly, yet she had no words, her eyes telling him all he needed to know.

"Don't worry for us, Eryan", she spoke half whispering, "do your duty and Emperor willing we may be reunited some day..". Yet she knew it was not so. Once in the Imperial Guard one was gone for as long as he survived, destined never to return home. Those last minutes they had together were one memory she'd have for aslong as she lived. Slowly the man stood up only to face his wife, who tried to keep herself composed, yet it was not to be. Both held the child close, finally Guardsman Tollin, breaking away, reaching down to pick his belongings. His lips kissed his wife's own, briefly touching her cheek, as he backed away, trying notto make is longer and even more painful.

As his heavy footsteps carried him away, Allia allowed herself finally the opportunity to cry. Her eyes could see a green Chimera moving to the assembly area, carrying Eryan with it. A second later her eyes stopped on Kara, who reached outtoward her mother's face, her blue eyes, looking up. Minutes passed and the roaring engines of the transport ship taking Eryan away could be heard, covering the little girl's cries. Following the spacecraft as it dissapeared beyond the horizon, the woman attempted to stifle her tears, turning back toward the nearby settlement of Leris.

Passing the wall, she stepped onto the asphalt covered sidewalk, walking slowlyher steps carried her home. The hab-module door swung as she pressed in the sequence of runes to open it, confirming it. Moving to set her sleeping child back into her crib, Allia walked into the living room where she slumped into an old chair, facing the mantle-piece above a small fire-place that no longer burned. Pic

 

tures from her wedding, of herself, her husband and the newborn Kara, of Eryan in his service uniform. Here she no longer had to be the long Baalasi woman, sheno longer had to pose. Cursing the Administratum and whoever decided to raise regiments from that world, she dived again into an ocean of tears.

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