The end of human zenith.

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Neil Huxley's shriek echoed inside his suit as he took in the last of his oxygen supply. He was floating helplessly in the emptiness of the boundless place called the universe. He looked on, as the craft he called home for several decades, sailed away in the sea of blackness, leaving him on his own. Hopeless, he stopped shouting, he stopped moving. He could only observe.

Observe the circular void to drag him into its wrath. Observe the universe work its magic before the last drops of oxygen left his brain, leaving him asphyxiated. Observe the true scale of his human self compared to the monumental vastness of the abyss he was getting sucked into. Observe his oxygen bar go to zero...

His last thought was the realization of how small he was, how irrelevant he was in the grandeur of the interminably vast universe, nothing but a bunch of atoms waiting to succumb to ignorance and greed.

Neil didn't live to tell his fundamental perception of the universe. But the people that ousted him certainly needed the enlightenment. They witnessed his demise on the event horizon as the ship carrying them fired its boosters to commence an interstellar journey towards the unknowns of the universe.

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Vulcan was on fire. The planet's foundations had become an ashed hearth scattered with the corpses of its own people. No one had lived long enough to determine the cause of Armageddon. It had happened only 1 week after the aliens who called themselves "Homosapiens" had landed on the planet and negotiated a deal to revitalize their dying world. Less than seven days later, Vulcan was stripped of its priceless natural resources, and burned to the ground by the "Homosapiens". Thanks to the sophisticated mineral pipelines originating from the core, the invaders only had to ignite one portion to wreak havoc on the planet.

They then fed on the ablaze world's dying resources and flew off in their fusion-powered vehicle into the depths of space...

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The so-called "Homosapiens" were normal human beings from Earth but they had evolved into a Type II civilization on the Kardashev scale. Simply put, they had advanced far enough to harness the power of the sun, slowly emptying the star from its hydrogen supply. They had then used the infinite energy source to forcefully colonize and dispel planets in the Milky Way of their resources and life. Vulcan was just one life-bearing planet amidst hundreds more that was stripped of its abundant mineral deposit and welcoming alien life that would soon be decieved by the real purpose of the people who called themselves Homosapiens. The name would send shivers down the spines of all the creatures in all the planets of the universe, considering they were vertebrates in the first place. Now, Skelmite, a planet sized spacecraft was on a spree to depopulate and repress further planets. Vulcan was the latest in the Mily Way, and so was it the last. Skelmite, thus, had to make the intergalactic travel to the Andromeda Galaxy, to further widen the pernicious realm of the Homosapiens.

But John F. Kennedy once said, "Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind."

And as predicted, the time had come. Humans had prospered wickedly for way too long, planetarily, and galactically with the help of war, evil and greed, but it wouldn't last long.

Atleast not in Andromeda.

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"That got rid of him."

"Do you know the absurdity of what you've just done? He was the father, the founder of the Skelmite and you just killed him like it was nothing."

Harper stared at the white speck from the window as it went further and further into the abyss of nothingness. He contemplated his decision of cutting the safety hatch attached to Neil Huxley as he conducted a routine space walk after planetary visits. Behind him stood Dan, bewildered by what he had just seen. And just as they were having their conversation, Neil was out there in space, getting deprived of oxygen, and having his final thoughts about the delusionary mindset he and fellow humans had.

"It's too late now.", Harper replied, "The old man has been leading us for too long. It's about time we need fresh blood on this ship."

"Wait till the Committee finds out. They're not gonna be happy, you're going to be send to confinement Harper!!", retorted Dan.

"That is, only if they are told I killed Neil", said Harper smilling diabolically.

Harper took out a pistol sized blaster from his back pocket. He aimed it at Dan and pulled the trigger. The laser beam zipped through the air, and went straight through Dan's heart. He was dead before he could realize what had happened. His body fell to the ground with a heavy thud

Harper took Dan's body, opened a hatch, the same one Neil used to conduct the space. He took the dead body and left it in enclosed capsule of air. He pressed a button after closing the door and Dan's deady body went flying into space, towards the black hole that also took in Neil.

The two phases of Harper's plan were executed; get rid of Neil, and eliminate all witnesses. Now all he had to do was call a Committee meeting regarding the death, which would automatically make him the man in command as he was already the Commanding General of the ship. Greed and ignorance of his actions had engulfed him and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

The only thing stopping him from being the dictator of the universe was one intergalactic journey.

Or so he thought...

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Atticus Fitzgerald was the head of the PIP (Planetary Invasion Prevention) for the Andromeda Galaxy. He had had a few of the most tough days in his life following the Vulcan incident. The entire galaxy relied on him and he felt like the weight of the responsibilities was making him shorter and plumper. But in reality it was just the excessive fatty foods and alcohol to cope with the anxiety. Only 56 hours to go until the notorious Skelmite would enter the galaxy. The ship was unlike any the PIP had in its arsenal. Skelmite could obliterate entire colonies with its frontal assault weapons while Atticus's defense spacecrafts would only dent the outer shell of the mammoth. He had to defend his galaxy and its people or the colonization of Andromeda would mean the end of the liberty and peace of the universe's living beings.

Fitzgerald was getting ready for the board meeting. It was time to show his seniors the plan to defend and attack the Skelmite. He was wearing his best suit and as he made way to the meeting room, all the million probabilites of ship maneuvers were going in his head to make certain the plan works even if casualties are high. Thats why he was the man for the job. He reached the door, cleared his throat and entered.

The room was humongous, and in its midst, sat 8 of the smallest people Atticus had seen in his life. Maybe they just looked small compared to the room, he thought. But it didn't matter, as they had the fate of the galaxy in their hands.

"Welcome Mr.Fitzgerald to the board meeting. Please get right to the presentation." , said a well built but bold man from the meeting table. "We've only over a day to enact our plans, and it better be good. The stage is yours."

One day in Atticus's world was 50 Earth hours long.

"Thank you Mr.Bebit." , replied Atticus, smiling. "And thank you for placing your trust in me for leading this initiative. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

Atticus started explaining his idea of defense and attack. He would use the small fusion buggies to create a long yet powerful defensive line around the entrance of the wormhole from which Skelmite would enter. Upon the failure of Harper's "peace colonization" plan, the Skelmite would turn into attack mode. This would allow the larger of the PIP ships to attack and force the Skelmite to retreat. But the wormhole only lasts a few minutes, making return impossible. And thats when Attcius would use the Blitzkrieg method to attack, penetrate and encircle the Skelmite.

The best part of it all? They would be using the human's tactics on themselves.

The board was flabbergasted, and they instantly gave the go-ahead for the assault teams.

If you were a person living on Zerxa, the first planet as you enter Andromeda, you would see thousands and thousands of space ships rolling into the sky, and flying off to space. A mesmerizing formation of fusion powered laser ships would be seen in the night sky. And most importantly, you would feel safe.

Atticus felt content. He had outdone himself and was confident that Zerxa wouldn't be so much as grazed. Now all he had to do was wait.

Andromeda was ready...

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Harper had successfully commanded the Skelmite to the colonization and destruction of hundred's of planets. He was impenetrable and audaciously powerful, and feared alongside Neil, who he killed. It was all him for universal control.

But he wouldn't get past one man and his love for liberty. As Harper commanded the ship into the wormhole, little did he know that his unstoppable force was about to be stopped.

Little did he know that war would end mankind.

Little did he know that the screams of his dying people would be echoing emptily in the darkness of space.