Chapter 1: Timely Arrival

Many long and painful years had passed with the conclusion of the 2nd Great War, now settled upon the unknown realm named only as the frontier. 

The former legion rebuilt itself into a kingdom known as the Dragon-wolf kingdom and what remained of the Xar-gezh and the Xer-ragzh that joined them renamed their species as the Zerrohnians. 

Despite narrowly avoiding extinction, the kingdom established their home around the exit tendril of the Sea of Stars, terraforming dead worlds to become resource or agricultural worlds providing resources for the kingdom’s growth.

Aboard the Arc-planetoid called the New Dawn was able to sustain an entire realm, it was not a life worth living but merely survival upon the relic left behind by the Ancient Forge Master. 

Now the hands of time begin to move against the kingdom as the race to find a new home or face extinction.

With time running out the newly crowned leader of the Sky Raider fleet under Kent Redridge they follow him into the vast unknown region of space. 

Aboard their ship the Night Dreamer and the will of their goddess, they travel through the vastness of space in search of hope of a better tomorrow.

Deep within the sizable ship, Kent meditated in the vast training hall to control the Monsters flowing through his body.

They showed him many lingering memories of heroes old and new who fought alongside his ancestors against the demons learning how they fought and why they fought.

As he copied their movement like flowing water pouring down the mountainside his sword technique filled with power and grace like a butterfly's wings fluttering upon the wind.

He trained hours on end to master the flow of the blade while hearing the whispers of the Demon of Faith. He tells the young knight that when they arrive the battle to free the world who welcomed them shall begin now that he was resurrected from mere fragments would he be able to take life now that his oath was broken.

Kent shook his head struggling to remember a time long passed sorting through the memories of his past self before his fall into darkness. All he could do was to survive as best as he could for the sake of those who need them. 

In the end, he was nothing more than a memory, a shadow nothing more than a puppet to the puppeteer, but he will continue to live on with the memories of the other.

The Demon laughed, praising him for his humility despite being a fragment of his former self he acknowledge that he was far from the original and yet he would still fulfill his duty in remembrance to the fallen.

Before he could remark on the demon's statement the doors suddenly opened to see an old friend. 

Captain Kallen Santiago, a good friend to Kent Redridge and a commander of the Sky Raider armada.

She saluted reporting that the Night Dreamer will soon arrive at the coordinates he provided. Though she was happy to see her friend return to the fold, Kallen expressed her fear and doubt for the journey was long and exhausting.

The marines and knights expressed their doubts upon their journey, passing through several nebula and ion storms that nearly destroyed the several ships if not for the Night Dreamers' strong prism shields. 

Their journey would have ended long ago if it were not for the technology provided by Neotopian Technologies and the blessings of Faith.  Kent asked her one question if she believed in him, she paused for only a moment telling him that she would follow her friend until the end.

He smiled only for a moment thanking her for still believing in him. Kent donned his helm whispering to her "If all goes well my friend… The long journey would be well worth it… If Faith is willing… You and the others will be called Saviors of the kingdom…" he uttered leaving for the bridge.

Kallen wondered what he meant by saviors as she followed him to the bridge.

Several minutes later at the Night Dreamer's bridge, Kent asked the Adjutants how long they must wait until they reach the coordinates he provided.

One of the Adjutants reported that they will reach the exit point within 2 hours. If a beacon is not deployed they may have trouble leaving the hyperlane. 

Kent sat down nearly crushing the arms of the chair irritated by the lack of belief within his own people. Yet he forgave them for only following him without fully understanding his mission in the first place.

He sighed as the demon took over asking the adjutant to open a line to everyone and every ship that followed him.

Kent and the demon spoke to the brave men and women aboard each ship with truth in their voice. 

They knew that the marines and even the Iron wolf knights had doubt rooted in their hearts because of their lord's return. He revealed to them their journey was to refind the world he was called upon to save long ago. 

They fought alongside many species, not only humans but others of varying shapes and forms. He had grown fond of them and Faith herself asked them to save the world and bring the Kingdom before the world to live alongside them as equals.

Should they doubt his words or his resolve, anyone was free to strike him down. Just before Kallen stopped anyone from shooting Kent to her surprise the adjutants and marines present upon the bridge stood silently saluting their lord.

Knowing that he was taken away to save a world and returned to give them a chance to find a home. It was the greatest and most noble mission any knight could undergo all in the name of their fallen home.

He sighed nodding to his brothers and sisters asking them to continue their duty in the name of their goddess and to the next generation.

Kallen sat next to her friend smacking him shouting furiously why he would ask his own kin to strike him down when they would gladly die for him.

He merely smirked, stating he was caught upon the moment asking his friend to forgive him. She sighed quoting Kent "Even if you don't call yourself a hero anymore Kent… You sure do act like one… I know you're now a knight lord and all… You need to figure out who you really are… I don't wanna lose my friend again, okay?"

Before he could reply one of the adjutants suddenly interrupted the two as the Night Dreamer's long-range radar picked up a beacon.

He explained the beacon was lit minutes ago when they scanned the ID of the beacon it came back to Kent's ID.

The Adjutant reported also of a strange message that played on repeat, despite their best efforts to translate the message. The translator could not decipher it until Kent listened in to the message.

"Yu'ka arla nahir... Kent... (We love you...Kent.)" The Message said as explosions played in the background.

The air in the bridge turned cold upon the bridge slamming down his fist upon the command chair asking the adjutant when they will reach the beacon's location.

The Adjutant panicked, reporting that they would reach the location in 10 minutes, his anger festered across the bridge realizing they were in trouble.

Kent scoffed, ordering all hands to prepare for battle as he stormed off the bridge.

Kallen ran towards him asking what was going on as she grabbed his arm when she saw his eyes were filled with fear.

"Need I say more, my friend?" He asked. 

She did not ask any further knowing the last time Kallen saw him filled with fear so long ago. 

All she could ask was to go and help those who need him. He thanked her as he went down to the hangar bay. 

Kallen ordered the ship to begin their battle preparations in case the troops would need support. 

He later arrived upon the hangar bay as hundreds of marines and knights began to arm themselves to the teeth for a battle worthy of the ages.

Kent met up with his team as his second in command, Razor "Rex" Sigfield Crosswolf walked towards his general as he put on his helmet reporting the team stood ready for battle.

One of his teammates and close friends cursed at whoever angered their "Bossman" Clayton said as he loaded his chain gun.

They converged around their general and explained the situation for he does not know what had happened to the world after he left. Only that his beacon was activated and the last thing he remembered is Arcadia was being attacked by an unknown force.

One of the more robust members of his team mentioned, "Basically bossman we are going in blind, to what I will assume is a battle with no clear intel about how many opponents we are going to face off against and what tech they possess that could practically kill us?" Genji explained.

Kent smiled knowing Genji despite looking like an idiot in front of others. He could not give them a clear answer but only a nod could he give him.

His brother Clayton smiled shouting "Bring it on!" Clayton shouted. Genji could not believe his own brother was a battle Junkie, then again Promethians are a distant cousin of the Xar-gezh so he let it pass for now.

To the team a very capable man who stood on par with his general in battle and a trusted friend by everyone. Before they deployed Ket looked upon the warriors that joined him, it was far from the army he originally thought yet many followed him nonetheless. 

With only minutes away before the ship left the Hyperspace lane, Kent rallied his men before the battle began, he addressed his people once more before they marched into the fight. 

At the edge of our hope came a promise, A promise to our fallen home that we shall live on for those who fell that day. Years may have passed since that fateful day but none had forgotten the pain of her fall. 

On that day we vowed to find a new world to call home and defend it from those who dare to take it, now a world on the verge of annihilation cries out for salvation. Many doubted the choices made long ago but this day we shall write our future upon the good earth… Draw your swords children of the Dragon-wolf and Rise, Rise against the encroaching darkness, Rise for those who need you, I bid you stand Warriors of Faith. 

The warriors cheered on as they boarded their gunships in preparations for their landing as the Night Dreamer left the Hyperspace lane. Kallen and the other adjutants cried out with little understanding, why they started to shed tears. She immediately realized why Kent was so intent on finding the world full of vast oceans and luscious greenery beyond their wildest imagination. 

The adjutants took initiative to open the windows all across the ship showing the many Zerrohnians aboard the ship showed the same compassion and joy for the world that called their lord to aid it. 

The Iron wolves lashed out howling before the blue world as a sign of joy for welcoming their lord, they bashed the butt of their swords upon their shields to give praise before their descent into battle. 

The demon smiled knowing the servants of his deity were eager for battle as the spirit of battle lit a flame brighter than the sun itself.

He watches silently from the shadows to weigh and measure the knights of this new clan, should they be found wanting, May they receive his blessing, should they be found lacking Let none escape his fury. 

With intentions revealed and spirits rekindled anew the Sky Raiders flew into battle to aid the people of the world below them.