Among The Ether: The Invasion of Issa

across the cityscape had increased. Their dim orange light now spilled high into the sky where it was met by the soft violet light of the two moons high above. In between the sounds of gun fire and explosions, Jacob could hear the faint drone of propellers off in the distance. Scanning the horizon, he noticed distant lights moving across the sky towards him. As the lights approached from beyond the river at the far side of city, Jacob became more frightened. Realising the explosions that shook the building were becoming more violent as the aircraft drew nearer.

“There are planes moving this way bombing us. We need to get out of here!” said Jacob, with panic in his voice.

“That's non-sense why would our own planes attack us?” Said Lucia with an arrogant tone.

Lucia’s husband had been an air force pilot, dying during a training accident a few years ago. She hated when anyone said anything even remotely negative about pilots or the air force.

“If the air force is coming then we are saved,” Lucia continued. With her and Angie now looking out the window beside Jacob.

Jacob knew better though. He saw the ring high above them before the fire fell. He knew the things out there were not from Issa and no air force, nor army would stand a chance.

“I don’t think they are ours...” continued Jacob.

Slowly backing away from the window as the aircraft approached, Jacob become overwhelmed with feeling of panic as the building shook more violently. The explosions rapidly drew nearer. The intense orange lights of airships bled through the window, brightly illuminating the small apartment. Angie turned from the window and started to make her way across the apartment unit to the door. Someone had started aggressively banging from the hall. The sound of the door flying open suddenly and hitting hard against the inner wall of their apartment unit echoed loudly through the darkness. In a panic, Alex jumped up from his sleep and started crying out loudly, adding to the cacophony of noise.

“You all need to get out of the building. They are levelling everything...!” yelled Darren frantically, as his voice trailed off.

“What are you talking about Darren?” Lucia yelled back.

There was no response, Darren had already left down the hall to warn the other units. Overwhelmed with fright, Jacob quickly made his way across the living room to grab Alex from the armchair, who until recently managed to sleep through all the chaos. Coming to within a few steps of Alex, Jacob felt the floor give way from under him. Suddenly all around, Jacob could hear the terrible sound of intense explosions and shattering glass. Blinded by flashes of intense light, Jacob felt sharp pieces of debris colliding against him before he was overcome by the brief feeling of free falling. A sudden pain shot through his body as he hit the ground several floors below... Then nothing.

III

The massive ring city, Avus, seemingly exploded out of ethereal space into the vicinity of the developing world of Issa. The blue star to which Issa was bound sank below the curvature of the planet as Avus coasted into a stable orbit. Entering the command deck suspended in the centre of the two-hundred-mile span between the circumference of Avus, President Ettimis drew the attention of the room. The doors to the bridge loudly hissed open and closed behind him, briefly letting in the sounds of the mighty engine at the heart of the ring. Marching to the centre of the room, the sound of Ettimis’s boots snapped against the metal floor, loud echoes bounced through the large space as he walked along across in the command deck. The crew remained completely silent as Ettimis approached with his two guards at either side of him. Standing at the centre of the room Ettimis peered out the main window of thick weathered glass. The faint city lights beamed up from the planet, as the disgust for the beings living on the surface that Ettimis believed were inferior, was clear on his face. In silence Ettimis turned to look from one side of the bridge before scanning to the other. His stiff black hair shinned against the soft orange lighting. His face remained unchanged as he adjusted the collar on his long black wool coat and examined the crew intently.

“Vice President Oret, tell me about this wretched place.” Said Ettimis with a sneer.

“Yes, President.” Said Oret taken by surprise, as he stood up from a seat next to Ettimis. Adjusting his thick rimmed glasses Oret continued to speak. “This is... a... uh... developing planet, rich in diverse life. It seems to be inhabited by a seed species in a state of recent technological advancement.” Continued Oret, as he fumbled through his notebook.

“Silence, you incompetent fool. I have no time to hear about this world or its pathetic inhabitants. Now tell me is this world harvestable?” Snapped Ettimis.

“My apologies.” Said Oret, with a noticeable tremble in his voice. “Yes, well... President. This world has the right conditions to be rich in aillinium and several other useful and rare minerals. And... uh, the inhabitants, from what our earlier investigations determined, have no technologies that would off any significant threat to our personnel.” Continued Oret.

“Good, such a pathetic world should make for a quick and profitable turnaround. The board will be most pleased. Now ready the recruiters and find me an army of local talent to help exploit this mud hole.” Said Ettimis, with a slight joy in voice.

“You heard the President, ready the invasion fleet. Collect as many employees as possible from the surface. Able bodied workers only.” Commanded Oret.

Operatives at their poorly lit workstations around the outer walls of the command deck quickly put on large earphones. Moving the plugs on the switch board, the communication operatives began calling down to the recruitment supervisors to ready their teams. Massive, soot covered atmospheric entry ships, loudly began roaring to life as they started their large engines sending plumes of