Prologue // A Cosmos Reborn /// The Unseen Consequence

Althaea: The galaxy is in shambles. Our cosmos bears the scars of war through every nebula and known star system. We may have won the war against the evil Authority, but strife and conflict have broken out across every quadrant as holdouts, collaborators, and a multitude of unseen forces rush to fill the power vacuum left behind. The Angels of Aldebaran, the so-called neutral protectors of peace who reluctantly aided us in the final battle, are quickly consolidating their forces. Only time will reveal their ultimate goal, but for now, the galaxy is once again hanging by a thread upon the precipice of war. Syntha: Ahem, Althaea, are you journaling again? Althaea: Yeah! I mean, there’s so much going on right now, you know? Just feels like we should make a record of our history. You never know who might listen to our story one day. Besides, you keep telling me I need a hobby when we’re out on these long exploration treks. Syntha: (laughs) You got me there. It’s cute how into it you’re getting. Althaea: Not as much as I’m into you, my dearest Synthia. Synthia: Oh, you stop that. Althaea: (giggles) Make me! Synthia: Hey, check this out. According to these readings, there’s an ancient ship just past this asteroid field. Elemental analysis indicates it’s at least…. No way… Althaea, this design dates all the way back to Old Earth! This could very well be one of the original seedships! Althaea: What!? You mean like, when humanity first took to the stars in cryochambers? Synthia: Yeah! We gotta check this out. Is your boarding gear ready? Althaea: Always is, darling! Punch it!

We fly together! Among the cosmos Onward forever One journey ends, Another begins Answer our calling Eons of war At long last. Evil has fallen One journey ends, Another begins Our galaxy Hangs on the precipice Once again You see what I see One journey ends, Another begins How much more Can our universe Survive unscathed? Will we ever learn? One journey ends, Another begins Exploring Across space And time What will we Discover Forces collide Victory Against the Authority But what have we Fought so hard For? We fly together once more Under a cosmos reborn Power vacuum High energy state Peace decaying into chaos Fearing for eternity When will the fighting cease? Angels on high Demons below All of them vying For control Infighting Gaslighting No truth Just want to Live our lives Freely You and I Can’t deny Cosmic destiny We know what’s coming! We fly together once more Under a cosmic cold war Synthia: This ship is huge. I’ve never seen anything like this. Althaea: Me neither! I knew the tech would be ancient, but I don’t even know what half this stuff is for. Synthia: Tell me about it. Do you hear that pulsing? Althaea: Yeah, what is that? Synthia: According to the scanner, it’s… it’s a distress signal! But… the ship is receiving, not sending. It’s recent, but whoever sent it is using tech that’s just as ancient as this ship… I think I can patch it through with a little hacking. There! Woman’s Voice: Help! My name is Violet and my people are in desperate need of rescue. If anybody hears this, please help us. We live on a small colony on Vulcan and our star has suddenly started to expand. We don’t have much time. Please. Anybody… Althaea: Holy shit, Vulcan? I didn’t know anyone still lived there! Synthia: Me neither. The last settlement was founded nearly a millennia ago. That tracks with the signal using such ancient code, but… No… Althaea: What is it? Synthia: That settlement was composed entirely of vampires! Althaea: Vampires?? You mean like the not quite dead immortal humans who drink blood?? I thought they all died out after hyperspace warp tech was discovered! Synthia: Yeah, they used to tend to the original seedships in the early days of interstellar travel, but you’re right; once we figured out warp technology, they no longer had jobs and most of them settled on Vulcan. Althaea: And after all this time, they’re still around?? Wow… We’re going to help them, right? Synthia: Absolutely. Let’s go contact the rest of Pleiades Squad. Althaea: Right behind you, darling! We were due for another adventure! We fly together! Among the cosmos Onward forever One journey ends, Another begins Answer our calling Eons of war At long last. Evil has fallen One journey ends, Another begins Our galaxy Hangs on the precipice Once again You see what I see One journey ends, Another begins How much more Can our universe Survive unscathed? Will we ever learn? One journey ends, Another begins! Will we ever know peace?

How many deceased? We could not save them all We only saved ourselves Do we fight for others selflessly? Or to avenge our own Hell? We thought we won the war Trillion lives remain at stake We’ll try to save them all Whatever it takes The Vampires of Vulcan Victims of upheaval Will we find salvation? Or deliver our own evil? Our squad is en route to aid a forgotten people betrayed Abandoned by modernity Immune to the passage of time Cursed to fight for eternity Are we not the same? My love, how far we have flown From burning skies to ancient seas I fear we have taken for granted The unseen consequence of technology The illusion falters Revealing the truth We were never truly free It all hinges on a truce The illusion falters There is no certainty We know what happens next What is our destiny? We thought we won the war Trillion lives remain at stake We’ll try to save them all Whatever it takes The Vampires of Vulcan Victims of upheaval Will we find salvation? Or deliver our own evil? Our squad is en route to aid a forgotten people betrayed Abandoned by modernity Immune to the passage of time Cursed to fight for eternity Synthia: Whoa… there it is… Vulcan… Althaea: Wow, it’s beautiful. Ancient terraforming looks so much better than what we currently use! Synthia: Agreed. Scanning the host star now. Althaea: Oh, good idea! It doesn’t make sense for it to be expanding rapidly already. Synthia: You’re right. None of this data makes sense… Oh no. It can’t be… Althaea: What is it? Synthia: This star is at least another few million humanoidian years from going nova. Whatever is causing it to expand is deliberate. Althaea, someone is doing this on purpose. Althaea: What? But who would do such a thing? And why? Synthia: I have no idea… the amount of power that would take is unfathomable. No entities I know of are even capable except— *gasp* Althaea + Synthia: The Angels of Aldebaran. Ship Intercom: Landing gear deployed The illusion falters There is no certainty We know what happens next What is our destiny? We thought we won the war Trillion lives remain at stake We’ll try to save them all Whatever it takes The Vampires of Vulcan Victims of upheaval Will we find salvation? Or deliver our own evil? Cursed to fight for eternity!