Kel-Morian Pirates

G-2275 was an unparalleled ice-blue gas giant, roughly the size of eight hundred Korhal IVs, encircled by a thin planetary ring thousands of miles wide. Most of the ring consisted of ice crystals flickering with ghostly blue flames, like a bridge of light refracting countless dazzling rays beneath the starlight.

Though the Kel-Morian pirate capital ship was already an imposing behemoth, against such a backdrop it was no more than a tiny speck trailing fire as it sailed toward G-2275. A single icy asteroid in the ring could smash it to pieces.

No matter how many times he ventured into space, Travis Cole always felt a terrifying sense of insignificance whenever his warship approached these colossal bodies drifting through the universe.

Beneath G-2275's magnificent rings, seas of clouds composed of hydrogen and methane were faintly visible. Beneath the methane clouds seemed to stand endless icebergs, but that too was only another sea of clouds, condensed into liquid beneath the pressure of gravity. The swirling eyes of the storms alone could swallow dozens of Morias.

It was a constant reminder of the universe's grandeur to those arrogant humans who claimed they had conquered it.

Like tides rising and falling, moons waxing and waning, countless civilizations had risen and perished, yet humanity knew nothing of them. After a long wait, humanity had finally stepped beyond the cradle that had nurtured life. Filled with awe and wonder, this young race still had to struggle for survival in a treacherous universe.

"Mr. Cole, I hope your intelligence is accurate. There really is an old Confederacy technology center here that was abandoned long ago." Footsteps sounded behind Travis Cole. The newcomer wore an ornate coat and tall boots, with a peaked military cap bearing a skull insignia perched atop a somewhat comical red face.

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