The Giza Mtuji's corridors vibrated with the hum of psionic engines as Kato moved swiftly to the command chamber deep within the ship's core. His armor, etched with runes of shadow-tech and blood-red sigils, reflected the ambient light. He descended into the chamber where the Overseer—a massive, shadow-formed construct known as Xal'taroth—lay in suspended stasis.
"Awaken Xal'taroth," Kato commanded, voice calm but authoritative.
The Overseer's vast form shimmered, shadows swirling into vitality as dark energies surged into it. Its unblinking, multi-eyed visage opened, and a deep, rumbling voice echoed through the chamber.
"I am Xal'taroth. My queen commands. State your purpose."
Kato nodded respectfully.
"The Mahasimu require the awakening of the Umbari caste—brutal enforcers—who will serve as guardians on the prison worlds. Expect a large number of prisoners; the resistance is largely broken, and their numbers are to be culled or enslaved. I will lead the retrieval."
Xal'taroth's many eyes glowed brightly.
"Proceed. Expect heavy resistance. Prepare the Umbari for deployment. They will serve the shadows—brutally and without question."
The Escort for Kara: Dispatched GuardsKato's voice switched to a private channel with two Umbari Guards, shadowed warriors in black crystalline armor, their multi-limbed forms tense and deadly.
"Send two Umbari to escort me," he ordered. "We will retrieve Kara from Safi's palace. Make it swift. Expect resistance."
The guards acknowledged and set out with deadly precision through shadowed tunnels toward Safi's palace—the palace she obsessively guarded, built into the heart of the system's hive.
Safi's Displeasure and the Capture of KaraIn the palace's shadowed hallways, Safi's eyes gleamed with a mixture of obsession and frustration as she watched the Umbari squad move into Kara's cell. She had already grown impatient with the delays.
"Use force if necessary," she hissed, lips curling into a cruel smile. "I want her brought here alive—if she resists, break her."
The Umbari guards cornered Kara in her cell, her fierce spirit refusing to submit easily. But the Umbari's brutality was swift and overwhelming. Shadows and psionic blades cut her down, forcing her into submission—her voice silenced under their brutal hand.
As Kara was dragged, Safi's frustration boiled—she didn't like losing control, even momentarily. But she held her temper.
After a tense struggle, the Umbari guards succeeded in subduing Kara and forcing her onto the transport ship, sealing her fate for the trip to Gharar.
The Capture of Zalor, the Clan LeaderSimultaneously, the Giza Mtuji's shadow forces captured Zalor, the Vhalar clan leader. He was a fierce, scarred figure—his expression defiant even in chains. He was dragged into the ship's dark holds, his body battered but burning with unbroken pride.
Kara and Zalor were thrown into the same cargo hold—confined in shadow-stamped cages—slipping into darkness as the ship prepared to leave. The last of the Vhalar resistance was brought under control, and the Giza Mtuji set course for Gharar to begin the next phase of the empire's expansion.
The Blood-Soaked Transport and New MastersThe Giza Mtuji's vast network of transport ships funnelled millions of prisoners from the camps—native fighters, civilians, and resistance leaders—deep into the shadow system. Nearby, the Shadowcourage squads swaggered through the hangar, their mocking laughter echoing:
"That's the new home, Gharar," sneered one.
"A paradise of shadows—built on their suffering. And soon, all these Vhalar—our new slaves—will learn their true masters are us, not them."
The shadow legions, fueled by brutal efficiency and relentless cruelty, forced prisoners into the Gharar systems—an empire of suffering designed to grow darkness and obedience from the broken. The native Vhalar—bloody, battered, and resigned—would serve the Mahasimu Empire,