Codename: Harvest

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. The only people to hear the cataclysm will be too dead to hear it. The planet Esra. A beautiful world with green oceans and pink clouds. A world with a single moon and two suns. A world home to billions of people of varying races.

"A small sacrifice." Kaesia whispered. She stood on the Colombine, staring out at the peaceful planet. The ship's power began to build as the weapons system charged. "For the greater good." The Colombine fired a white-blue bolt of Kabrauthium energy that struck the planet. Kaesia stared intently as the planet ruptured and split open, before flying apart entirely in serval large chunks.

It was odd. A world shattered like that, one would expect shaking and trembling. The only thing that Kaesia felt was a great sense of calm. The void of space muted the terrible destruction below. The only sound came from the ship's weapon winding down until the ship joined in the silence. A planet's worth of screaming, and not a single person heard it.

Kaesia made no move for minutes. She simply stared at the shattered planet as it rapidly started cooling. Her calm was finally interrupted by the radio at her side.

"Miss Quarine?" the voice came through.

"Yes, Captain?" she replied. There was strange casualness that came from her voice. Almost as if she had just seen a beautiful sunset.

"We are not receiving any Kephline readings from the target."

Kaesia did not reply immediately. This should not be the case. Colac's key should be radiating like a beacon. "Scan it again." Her voice was still measured, despite the news.

"We've already done three sweeps , ma'am. There's nothing there."

Kaesia frowned. This should not have been possible. "Have you calculated for Kabrauthium interference or Quextinal disruption?"

"Yes, ma'am. We've accounting for every variable."

"Are there any Esran survivors?"

"Negative. All life signs have been extinguished."

Kaesia was silent for a few moments. Her thoughts shouted in her head.

"Miss?" the captain's voice came through again. "What's our next directive?"

"Understood, Captain. Hold any orders. I'll be at the bridge shortly."

"Yes miss."

Kaesia ended the transmission and stared at the ruined planet for a few seconds longer. The glow was a near absence now. The only light now came from the two suns. What was once a planet with vibrant color was now muted and dark. She needed that key before anyone else got to it. The reclamation of the empire depended on it. If Colac was truly dead then it was only a matter of time.

Kaesia arrived at the bridge to find the crew hard at work. "Update Captain."

"Nothing to report miss. The planet is a fresh corpse and our readings show no signs of life. As you know already."

"Miss is it possible the key might have been vaporized on impact?" one of the bridge officers asked.

"Not with material that dense. Even if the entire planet were to be vaporized, the key would remain." Kaesia said. "No, it's down there somewhere."

"Your orders Miss? It's your call." the captain said.

Kaesia stewed in thought before answering. "Captain, prep the ship for Scenario Three, Codename: Harvest.”

The captain looked to Kaesia, "Are you sure, miss? Our pilots are good, but there are still fresh debris and-"

"I'm sure captain. We need that key." Kaesia's voice was final.

The captain nodded before placing his hand on the center console. "Docksman Prinner, prep the reapers. All hands, this is the captain. We are moving to harvest procedure."

"Yes, Cap'm." the docksman said through comms.

The center console displayed the sections of ships in the docking bay. More than a dozen small crafts in each section. Their color shifting from red to green in a sporadic sequence, signaling their ready.

"All reapers are green across the board, captain."

"Very good, Lieutenant." The captain again, placed his hand on the console. "Docksman Prinner. Launch the Reapers."

"Aye Cap'm."

The console color changed again from green to clear as each reaper was launched from their respective hangar.

"Miss Quarine, we are all yours."

Kaesia stared out as more than a hundred small crafts flew towards the shattered planet with a streak of blue exhaust following close behind.