Osram Time: 18:17, February 24, 2295

  Bluestone Rift, Zeeman Crater, Far Side, Osram

  "System functional," The narrow rift valley constricted around Jabari as he maneuvered his damaged Scarab mech, its missing frontal limb a testament to the recent battle. The one-sided gash by the J?tunn on its chassis gnashed like a metal maw, but the mech had persevered, much like the man piloting it.

  Ume's Gyata hoverbike zipped ahead, her porcelain features framed by raven-black hair bobbing slightly with each undulation. "This rift seems recent. Odds of someone having created this on their way to the fragment are near 100%."

  In the sky above, Seydou's Isazi loomed like a leviathan, casting an imposing yet reassuring shadow.

  "Then we’re on the right track. If this Crystal is real, someone else would want it, too," Jabari tapped rhythms with his fingers over the control panel.

  "The signal’s getting stronger," Ume's high-pitched voice chirped through the comm, "The frequency emitting from up ahead matches the Moondust Crystal’s." A delicate tilt of her head was made as she pointed towards an unassuming cavern at the base of a towering lunar spire. "There!"

  "Good work, Ume," Jabari replied, guiding the Scarab mech forward. As they approached the cavern, he noted the increasingly erratic communications.

  The sky above rippled with a sudden burst of energy, and Celine's commanding voice sliced through the comm system. "Ologuns, ready your rifles and prepare for landing!"

  Jabari glanced upward, his heart quickening as the silhouettes of Ologun marines in their bulky green fusion-powered exosuits plummeted from the Isazi’s imposing belly, their forms slicing through Osram's weak gravity as they descended. They touched down on the regolith surface, the impact sending up plumes of dust that swirled around them. Among them was Celine, whose lithe figure landed with a feline grace.

  "Form up around the Scarab," she commanded, and the marines fell into step behind Jabari and Ume, their boots thudding against the lunar soil. "Switch to a near-field channel. This static won’t get in our way."

  As they stopped at the cavern, Ume’s high-pitched voice sounded over the comm. "Based on my visual, these caverns may be too small for mechs and vehicles."

  Celine walked beside Jabari’s mech. "Power down your Scarab. We proceed on foot from here."

  "Aye, aye, ma’am," Jabari complied, shutting down his Scarab mech and climbing out of its battered cockpit. He retrieved his golden Plasma Rifle and checked the Combat Knife fastened securely to his belt. Beside him, Ume dismounted her Gyata hoverbike, parking it next to the cavern entrance.

  They exchanged a brief nod before venturing inside.

  As they delved deeper into the cavern, the air grew colder, and Jabari noticed a bioluminescent texture creeping along the cavern walls. The pale brown creep pulsed with rhythm, casting shifting shadows.

  "Processed Helionite mixed with Maur saliva. The Radi-Mons were here," Jabari murmured. He held his Plasma Rifle at the ready as Ume walked beside him. "Stay close."

  "I will," Ume nodded curtly, her countenance stoic.

  Behind them, the Ologun marines followed in tight formation, led by Celine. "Ologuns, safeties off."

  The cavern's interior unfolded before them. Jagged stalagmites jutted from the ground, while crystalline formations shimmered, glistening with moisture.

  Suddenly, the comm crackled to life, Wilhelm's crisp British accent cutting through. "My Anioma's keeping watch while you go under."

  "Affirmative, thank you." Jabari spoke, leading the way.

  "Pleasure," Wilhelm’s suave voice replied.

  They entered a vast stalactite grotto, its ceiling adorned with countless dagger-like formations. The chamber was large enough to accommodate dozens of people, but the silence was suffocating.

  Then, the cavern erupted in a cacophony of guttural growls and hissing. Jabari's heart hammered in his chest as he raised his Plasma Rifle, his knuckles turning white against the weapon's sleek surface. Ume remained by his side, yellow lines glowing in her android eyes as she raised her Plasma Handgun.

  Bone Fiends and Skuggrs slithered and skittered from every crevice, their forms emerging from the shadows, followed by the sound of skittering claws on stone.

  "Engaging the enemy!" Jabari shouted, his voice firm despite the fear that clawed at his insides.

  "Ologuns, formation!" Celine barked. The soldiers raised their Plasma Rifles in unison, unwavering in their fusion-powered exosuits.

  The Bone Fiends growled, their skeletal forms gnashing and hissing as they closed in on the group. The larger Skuggrs fell in behind them, their insectoid bodies pulsating.

  "Fire!" Celine ordered, and a storm of plasma bolts erupted from the Ologuns' rifles. The Radi-Mons shrieked as they were engulfed in searing light, but more continued to pour forth from behind the stone pillars.

  Jabari's heart pounded in his chest as he unleashed a torrent of plasma fire, each shot punctuated by the hum made by its glowing verdant core as they landed on the nearest Fiends.

  "Please remain still —" Ume, still a bit clumsy but deadly, weaved between the Ologun marines, her Plasma Handgun spitting regular shots at the Skuggrs.

  "Ume, watch out!" Jabari cried, spotting a Skuggr poised to strike at her exposed flank. He diverted and fired a series of fast shots, taking the creature down before it could harm her.

  Celine's voice rang out as she invoked her Solar psionic spells.

  "Kra Nhyira!" she intoned, her Solar energy washing over the warband, mending wounds and bolstering her troops with renewed vigor. The Ologuns fought with renewed determination, boosted by an inner fire.

  Slowly but surely, the Radi-Mons began to dwindle in number, their onslaught faltering.

  "For the Directorate!" Jabari shouted, his voice hoarse but resolute. With each enemy felled, the cavern grew ever more still, until only the heavy breathing of their comrades filled the air.

  Jabari’s heart hammered in his chest as he lowered his rifle.

  Celine, her face glistening with sweat, approached Ume, who held her right arm with her left as her hand gripped the handgun still.

  "It never hurts to try," Celine commented, Her fingers danced with radiant light, healing energy washing over Ume's wounds as the Anansemka incantion parted her lips. "Susu Firi Owia."

  The raven-haired android winced at first but then sighed in relief. "Thank you, Madam Celine," she murmured, tilting her head slightly to the left.

  "As I suspected, you're made using bio-synthetic muscles. My Solar psionic spells seem to work on you." Celine replied with a half-smile.

  Ume held still for a moment as aureate lines flickered in her almond-shaped eyes. "The Moondust Crystal, it’s very close!" She pointed towards a small, shadowed corridor up ahead. She sprinted towards it, her lithe frame disappearing into the darkness.

  "Wait, Ume!" Celine blurted out.

  "Ekwensu, Ume!" Jabari, fueled by protective instinct, raced after her, his powerful legs propelling him forward.

  As they reached the end of the walkway, a shimmering blue fragment caught Jabari's eye. It gleamed amidst the oppressive gloom, a fragmented crystal the size of his fist socketed into the cavern wall.

  "There." Ume came to a halt as she pointed at the fragment.

  "We need to be careful," Jabari warned, his voice low.

  The air was suffused with tension as they stared at the Moondust fragment. Next to the stone, a line of glowing blue texts lay etched on the stone wall: ‘Harald var hér ’.

  Disregarding the vague scripture, Jabari's heart raced as he stood before the fragment, its pulsating blue light casting a glow upon his ebony countenance. His fingers tightened around the grip of his Plasma Rifle as he glanced at Celine, her previously calm demeanor replaced by an unsettling intensity.

  "Extract the fragment. Use your knife to carve it out," she ordered, her voice unnervingly focused.

  Jabari hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded. He sheathed his rifle onto his back and drew the Combat Knife from his belt. The blade’s razor-sharp edge was lined with gold inlays, intricate patterns carved along the steel surface. The handle — dark green with metallic gold accents — fit perfectly in his grip.

  With the knife held in one hand, he began to carve away at the stone wall, each slice bringing the crystal closer to liberation.

  As the fragment fell free into Jabari's palm, an otherworldly screech tore through the cavern, the sound so ancient and terrible it made his bones ache. The bioluminescent creep along the walls pulsed erratically.

  "Hold up..." Celine's voice was barely a whisper. "Everyone, form up! Now!"

  From the darkness beyond their lights emerged a horror. A massive, ink-black form descended from the cavern's heights, its octopus-like arms writhing like living shadows. Each appendage was longer than three men laid end to end, and its flesh seemed to drink in what little light touched it. But it was the creature's eyes that struck true fear into Jabari's heart - three burning orbs of amber that held malevolent intelligence.

  "Shango's Schlong..." Jabari breathed, instinctively pulling Ume behind him as the monstrosity filled the chamber. The android's frame trembled against his back.

  "Hafgrim the Ancient One," Celine's voice carried an edge of recognition and dread. "Weapons free! Protect the fragment!"

  The black Kraken's voice crashed over them like waves of broken glass. "The Scroll of Convergence has shown me truth, little ones. Your crystal shard will serve a greater purpose - the opening of gates to Shashvat Ananda itself."

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  Skuggrs poured from the shadows behind their mistress, their chitinous forms gleaming in the erratic light.

  "Ologuns! On my mark!" Celine raised her hand, Solar energy crackling around her fingers. "Target the Kraken’s minions!"

  The chamber erupted into chaos. Plasma bolts cut through the air as the Ologun marines opened fire, their volleys catching several Skuggrs mid-leap. Jabari's own rifle joined the chorus, each shot illuminating the nightmare before them.

  Ume's Plasma Handgun sounded as she picked her targets, but Jabari could hear the tremor in her synthetic breathing. The android was pushed to her limits.

  The inky-black Kraken observed the slaughter of its lesser spawn with amusement. "So easy to slay those that is not your own, isn't it?"

  Its massive form then drew up, arms spread wide as it began an incantation in J?turmál. "Hugr tinn, dypt svefns!"

  The spell struck Celine. She staggered, her hands flying to her temples as she screamed.

  "Celine!" Jabari started forward, but Ume's iron grip on his arm held him back.

  "Something's wrong with her bio-readings," the android's voice was tight with alarm. "Her neural patterns are being overwritten!"

  When Celine straightened, her eyes blazed with an unnatural light. Without warning, she turned her Solar powers against her own troops, chanting in Anansemka. "Anyan Kaw-naw-mu!"

  The first Ologun didn't even have time to cry out as golden fire consumed him from within.

  "Dr. Kamara, please!" Another marine begged just before her magic struck him down.

  Jabari watched in horror as their commander, their healer, methodically began to eliminate her own people.

  Each death seemed to please the ancient horror above them, its arms writhing in dark celebration. "Most amusing. Maridians have proven easier to defeat than I presumed."

  "Bo-oh-deh Ntwamudua!" A new voice thundered through the chamber, and a wall of violet energy materialized between Celine and her remaining targets.

  Jabari spun to see a fellow Maridian stride from the shadows, his eyes blazing with psionic power. Despite the danger surrounding them, Jabari couldn't help but notice the newcomer's striking presence. Clad in an elegant emerald and gold ceremonial attire that seemed almost regal in design, the man moved with fluid grace. The garment's ornate golden embellishments caught what little light existed in the cavern, creating an almost ethereal aura around him. Though the finery showed signs of recent battle—small tears and scuffs marring its perfection—it did nothing to diminish the authority he commanded.

  The mage's eyes glittered with a purple energy that now dissipated, an unsettling grin twisting his features. His face was a perfect balance of sharp angles and smooth planes, with high cheekbones that accentuated his intense gaze. Glossy black hair fell in loose waves around his face, framing it like a dark halo, the neatness of his strong jawline contrasting with the wild intensity in his eyes.

  The ancient Kraken's arms ceased their swaying, amber eyes fixing on the newcomer with what might have been recognition. "The Prince of Ivory Coast!" it rasped, voice like grinding stones beneath an ocean. "Still meddling in affairs beyond your comprehension, Laurent?"

  "Hunting funny-sounding artifacts for Skarn again, Hafgrim?" Laurent's voice dripped with surprising casualness as he spoke the creature's name. "Lazy little boy, isn't he? Always giving you the hard jobs."

  "The Scroll speaks truth, little Laurent," The Kraken drew herself up to her full, terrifying height, arms spreading like a grotesque crown. "The Crystal's power will tear open the veil to Shashvat Ananda. The Fenris Horde will pour through. You lesser beings’ defenses will mean nothing."

  While they spoke, Jabari noticed Celine still moving with robotic precision, her eyes vacant as she prepared another Solar spell. Three of their Ologuns lay dead or dying, their fusion-powered exosuits smoking from her attacks.

  "Jabari, is it? Our new arrival," Laurent's voice cut through, though the prince's eyes never left Hafgrim, the gold accents on his emerald attire catching the bioluminescent light. "Remember your training? Every Kraken has a weakness - a spot the DSC's archives speak of. Ring any bells?"

  Understanding dawned. Of course - the mouth beneath the mass of arms. The soft spot that even ancient horrors couldn't protect. But reaching it...

  "Your pets learn nothing," Hafgrim's screech held something like amusement. "The Crystal belongs to my great Primarch Skarn, as you will witness!"

  But in that moment of gloating, Hafgrim had risen slightly, her arms spread wide. An opening.

  Jabari didn't think. He moved.

  His muscles coiled and released like a spring. He launched himself forward into a dead sprint. Behind him, Laurent's voice rang out with another incantation, drawing Hafgrim's attention upward as violet energy crackled through the chamber.

  Three steps. Two. One.

  Time seemed to slow as Jabari dove. His Plasma Rifle came up, and he squeezed the trigger.

  The weapon roared to life, unleashing a full-auto barrage of verdant bolts directly into the Kraken's vulnerable mouth. Each plasma round that found its mark drew an unholy shriek from Hafgrim, her arms thrashing wildly as superheated plasma seared.

  "Insolent worm!" Her screech of pain and rage shook loose stones from the cavern ceiling. One massive arm whipped toward him, but Jabari was already rolling away, his training taking over as he scrambled back to cover.

  "Again!" Laurent commanded, and Jabari didn't hesitate. Another burst of plasma fire forced Hafgrim further back, her massive form recoiling from the assault on her weak point.

  "This means nothing," Hafgrim's voice was thick with pain and hatred as she began to retreat into the shadows. "When the Fenris strikes again, your moon will drown in darkness."

  As the Kraken withdrew, Celine stumbled, her eyes clearing as Laurent rushed to catch her before she collapsed, his golden armored pauldrons gleaming as he moved with agility despite his formal attire.

  "Ayaresa!" Laurent chanted in Anansemka as his hands glowed with violet Mirage energy, working to fully break Hafgrim's influence.

  Celine's eyes snapped open, her gaze immediately falling on her fallen soldiers. She stiffened in Laurent's arms, her breath catching.

  "It wasn't you, madam," Jabari said firmly, keeping his golden rifle trained on the shadows where Hafgrim had vanished. "It was the Kraken."

  She blinked, her gaze finally focusing on the man supporting her. Recognition flashed across her features, followed by disbelief.

  "P-p-prince Laurent?" Celine's voice was barely above a whisper. "How are you—" She winced, clutching her temple. "Seydou lost contact with you weeks ago. We thought—"

  "That I'd met my end?" Laurent's lips curved into a sardonic smile. His eyes flickered briefly toward the darkness. "I decided it was easier to track down this fragment on my own than to bother Chairman Kofi with the details."

  "The Chairman and his Oligarchs have questions!" Celine said, attempting to straighten but faltering under the lingering effects of the mind control. "Suddenly embarking on this mission without informing your underlings...it's not the first time you've done so!"

  "Ah, quite right," Laurent replied as he adjusted the ornate amulet at his throat, his voice carrying more levity than Jabari had expected from someone of such regal bearing. "Maybe I should apply for business leave next time?"

  Celine touched her earpiece, her expression softening slightly. "Seydou, Wilhelm - you won't believe who we've found. Prince Laurent is here, alive and well."

  The comm erupted instantly with overlapping exclamations.

  "LAURENT?!" Seydou's voice cracked with shock and delight. "Is this some kind of joke, Celine? Because if it is—"

  "It's no joke," Celine confirmed. "He's standing right in front of me."

  "Good heavens!" Wilhelm's normally composed tone wavered with emotion over the comm. "We've been searching bloody everywhere! Two weeks without a word!"

  "May I?" Laurent gestured to Celine's earpiece. She nodded, removing it and handing it to him.

  "Hello, my friends," Laurent spoke into the device, his voice warm. "Yes, it's really me. Still breathing and still causing trouble."

  "The Chairman was about to declare you MIA!" Seydou exclaimed. "What happened? Where have you been?"

  "A long story, best told in person," Laurent replied. "This fragment required…discretion. I'd hate to have Chairman Kofi demand an update on an hourly basis."

  "Well, you're not alone anymore, sir," Wilhelm declared firmly. "And you're explaining everything once we're back at Tumi!"

  "With pleasure," Laurent handed the earpiece back to Celine with a slight bow. "And perhaps over something stronger than water rations, hmm?"

  The comms fell silent for a moment before Seydou remembered protocol. "Right, right—status report! Do you have the fragment? Is everyone alright?"

  Ume appeared at Jabari's side, her synthetic eyes scanning the darkness. "No signs of this Hafgrim or additional Radi-Mons. But my sensors indicate the cavern's structural integrity was compromised during the battle."

  Laurent's gaze shifted to Ume, his brow furrowing slightly as he took in her porcelain features and the yellow lines glowing in her eyes. "And what do we have here? A ZenFusion model, if I'm not mistaken."

  "This is Ume," Jabari said, stepping closer to her protectively. "She's an android, but...different. We recovered her from an Imperial facility on Earth. She's helping us track the Crystal fragments."

  Celine nodded. "U6-M9 is with us, Laurent. Her data was crucial to finding this shard."

  Laurent studied Ume for a moment longer, then gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "Interesting times indeed." His expression grew more serious as he looked back to the fallen Ologuns. "I see three who've fallen here. I recognize Nyathi from the Cape Coast training grounds."

  "And we lost Abaan in the field," Celine added, her voice steady despite the pain in her eyes. "Nyathi, Makeba, and Khalid — good soldiers all. They died for something of true importance."

  Laurent nodded solemnly. "Their sacrifice will be remembered."

  Celine straightened, drawing strength from Laurent's words. She stood tall, her posture regaining its commanding presence despite the ordeal. "Hafgrim's control was... overwhelming. But I felt you all fighting for me." She looked at Jabari with newfound respect. "Especially you, Lieutenant. Your actions were exemplary."

  "I was just doing my duty, ma'am," Jabari replied, the crystal fragment still pulsing in his pocket.

  A crackling sound filled the chamber as Seydou's voice came through their comms. "Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? The interference is clearing! Celine? Jabari? Anyone?"

  "We're here, Seydou," Celine responded, her voice steady. "Mission accomplished. We have the fragment."

  "You have it?" Seydou's excited voice practically squealed through the comm. "That's amazing! Absolutely amazing! The first Moondust Crystal fragment recovered by humans in...well, maybe ever! I'm telling Outpost Tumi now. They'll welcome us like heroes!"

  "Control yourself, Seydou," Celine admonished, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "We've lost many good soldiers who gave their lives for this mission."

  A moment of silence followed.

  "Of course, they will be honored," Seydou replied, his voice now solemn. "Their sacrifice won't be forgotten."

  "Indeed they won't," Laurent agreed, placing a hand on Celine's shoulder. "But they would also want us to recognize what we've achieved here. The Directorate now possesses what both the Imperium and Alliance have failed to secure."

  "He's right," Wilhelm's voice cut in through the comm. "I've been monitoring communications. There's no chatter about any other faction having a piece of this mythical crystal. We're the first, and that's worth celebrating."

  Jabari glanced at the fragment in his pocket, then at Ume, who watched him with curious eyes. "What do you think this thing can do?" he asked quietly.

  "Unknown," she replied. "But based on its resonance pattern, its potential is... significant."

  "We should return to Outpost Tumi immediately," Celine said, her focus returning to the mission. "We need to secure the fragment and prepare our report to Chairman Kofi."

  "And perhaps," Wilhelm's voice suggested smoothly, "a small recognition of our accomplishment might be in order. I've already radioed ahead to Tumi. They're quite eager to welcome the heroes who secured the Crystal fragment."

  Laurent laughed, a surprisingly warm sound that echoed through the cavern. "Always thinking of morale, aren't you, Wilhelm? But he's not wrong," he added, addressing Celine. "The team deserves acknowledgment for what they've achieved today."

  Celine hesitated, then nodded. "Agreed. We'll honor our fallen properly, but we'll also recognize this historic achievement." She turned to the remaining Ologuns. "Prepare to transport our brothers back to the surface. They return home with honor."

  As they gathered their fallen, Jabari felt the weight of the crystal shard in his pocket. Despite the losses, they had accomplished something unprecedented. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he looked at Ume, who offered him a small smile in return.

  "You did well," Laurent said, falling into step beside him as they made their way back through the cavern. "Your instincts against Hafgrim were impressive. The Kimaris Warband chose wisely when they selected you."

  "Thank you, sir," Jabari replied, straightening slightly at the praise. "Though I'm still learning."

  "Aren't we all?" Laurent's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Even after decades of fighting these abominations, they still find ways to surprise me."

  As they emerged from the cavern into the eternal night of Osram's wilderness, the Isazi dropship hovered above, its familiar silhouette a welcome sight. For the first time since landing on the lunar surface, Jabari felt something beyond duty or fear. The Moondust Crystal fragment pulsed quietly in his pocket.

  Whatever Hafgrim's "scroll" had referred to, whatever gate she had planned to open—they had denied her this piece of the puzzle. For now, at least, that was enough.

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