Prologue: The Last Letter

  The medical tent smelled of burnt ozone and cheap antiseptic. Outside, the camp of the Valkyrie was a cacophony of shouting soldiers and the low, heavy thrum of dropship engines, but inside Orion Steele’s head, there was only a ringing silence.

  He sat on the edge of the cot, his dark blue pants torn at the knee and stained with the sickly green ichor of the Hive. His side throbbed with every breath—a reminder of the Behemoth that had nearly cracked his ribs before the darkness took him.

  A pen felt heavy in his hand, heavier than any wrench or welding torch he'd ever held. He stared at the crumpled notepad on his lap. He needed to say it. He needed to put the words somewhere, or the void left by Mira’s absence was going to swallow him whole.

  His hand trembled as the tip of the pen touched the paper.

  My Dearest Mira,

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  He stopped. The name felt like a physical weight in his chest. He could still see her face—the way her hazel eyes had widened with terror as the Hive drone dragged her into the shadows. He could still hear her scream, a sound that cut through the chaos of the battle and now played on a loop in his mind.

  I don't know where you are, he wrote, the ink bleeding into the cheap paper. I don't know what fate befell you in those harrowing moments. The thought of you in harm's way is a dagger that twists in my heart with every passing second.

  A medic passed by, the metallic clinking of instruments momentarily breaking his focus, but Orion didn't look up. He was no longer in the tent. He was back at the ravine, feeling the hot breath of the Hive on his neck, reaching for a hand that wasn't there.

  I will not rest, Mira. I will scour every inch of this accursed planet. I will brave the darkest catacombs of the Hive's lairs... I will tear apart the very fabric of this universe if that’s what it takes to bring you back to me.

  He folded the paper with shaking fingers and tucked it into the pocket of his vest, right next to his heart. He didn't know if she was alive. He didn't know if she was still human.

  But as he reached for the worn black fedora sitting on the crate beside him, Orion Steele knew one thing for certain: The Hive had taken his world. Now, he was going to take theirs.

  Note to Readers:

  Conflict Space universe!

  Director's Cut, is something special. I’ve gone back into the archives to expand the lore, add never-before-seen scenes, and deepen the technical "Hard Sci-Fi" elements that I’ve always wanted to explore.

  The Visual Universe: > I’ve put together a 5-minute Concept Storyboard video that explores the fall of Earth and Orion’s journey to Terra Nova. []

  Note: This is an early "Alpha" version of the animation I am building. I am currently revising and polishing the visuals with updated tools to match the "Director's Cut" quality—expect a full HD Remastered version to drop right around the time we launch our community hub!