Xeno Core

The cavernous base camp is almost a miniature hive-city. Casteless still make up the vast majority of the population, as they do everywhere, but Pel now join the Mos and Somner walking the street-like spaces between rows of tents. Bruen even spots the robes of a Juror in the distance, concealed by the crowd.

While he pauses to survey the scenery, Mos Bruen hears rumors of an impending construction project. The Duv caste have decided to install a permanent colony on this world, as an ongoing defense against the tribals. He wonders how they intend to bring enough water to this hot dry world but decides that that is the Duvs' problem.

His companions stand around him, sorting themselves by rank. Mos Einiss follows closely on one side, and the armored gray alien Merchant Gelly on the other. Behind them are Somner Zek and Wev with Drev in the rear.

The casteless aide that leads them waits with less than appropriate patience, but it is a small enough thing the Bruen is willing to overlook it. Einess glances casually at his brother, but Bruen ignores that as well.

They're brought to the center of the camp, where deep pits reach into the dark and shiny stone, straining down into darkness. Here will be the site of the common spawning pool. Bruen had hatched in such a place, and upon crawling into the bright air above that violent nursery had been chosen for his current role. Against ancient tradition Mos Denn had selected a commoner to raise, to accustom to following command while instructing him in battle techniques and martial forms.

Another trait he possesses, his independent nature, he also accredits to Denn's influence.

The young of the Mos caste, like Einiss, are raised in academies controlled by teachers from various bloodlines. Little glory accrues to those who mentor warriors; history loves the hero more. Youngest spawn recently declared masters are often assigned the task of teaching the next generation. Retired generals deemed unfit but still wishing to contribute sometimes volunteer their final seasons to the betterment of those that will replace them, but these are rare.

There they are taught the basic skills necessary to perform their duties. Depending upon what is currently fashionable, different weapons are taught. Advanced classes like history and tactics, often taught as the same class, are only briefly available, if at all.

The true teacher is the battlefield, and those released from the academy quickly sort themselves into the skilled, competent, and dead. Bruen sees the ground marked out for the academy this colony will host, right next to the common spawning pool. They move past the planned location and to the command center of the colony.

An open area with tables and free-standing charts placed haphazardly, swarming with uniformed figures greets the group. The aide runs off to report, and an older general glides up to greet them. She takes a moment to take in the way her new arrivals arrange themselves before addressing Bruen.

"Mos Bruen, Mos Einiss. I see you two have come to an understanding," the elder states. All of her upper tendrils gleam, metal rather than flesh, and her thorax is studded with thick spikes. "Tell me, what news from the front line?"

"The world beyond the portal has fallen completely under the sway of the tribals," Bruen informs her. "Mos Gol has taken command of a small force to scout the world from the air. My last update was that she had rooted out two adolescent chiefs. I've received no word of additional portals on that world, so we may have gotten there in time, for once."

"About time, too," agrees the elder. "If we've finally found the fresh edge of their expansion, we might be able to truly hurt their growth rates."

"If ye can call that on time, then aye, fine. I call it too late, meself."

"Forgive me, Mos Chool," Bruen says quickly. The elder, Chool, waves him off.

"No need to apologize. The alien is correct," Chool slumps slightly, her pedipalps hanging forlornly. "It is the way of the galaxy; the tribes spread and we follow behind. Each world we chase them to is another species gone forever."

"Yes, of course. I have spent too long fighting recently, and not enough remembering why I fight," concedes Bruen.

"It is good to hear that Gol is staying busy," Mos Chool declares. "That means I know where to send the Sha when they arrive."

"Builders?" Einiss seems surprised, his tendrils tense. "How soon until they can erect some proper fortifications?"

"I had thought you were they," grumbles Chool. "We're at a complicated nexus and having proper walls and solid doors will go a long way towards holding this hole."

Bruen looks around the camp. He can still see the ruins of the tribal camp in the placement of his peoples' tents. Lifeless lamp posts jut regularly in a grid pattern between the tents. The soldiers hang lanterns on the tall, hooked poles, bathing the cavern in soft runelight.

Sha are more than simple builders. The casteless can be directed to build, and often it is a Sha's plan that must be followed. Inventors, architects, and civil engineers make up their numbers. Sha are not warriors and need Mos to defend them while travelling to the new colony. A skittish breed, their small frames and soft carapaces make them rare upon the front lines.

"I'm sure you must be tired," Chool announces, interrupting Bruen's thoughts. "Three rows past the eastern edge of the academy you'll find the other officers' tents. Have your soldiers set up there."

Bruen leads his group through the tent city to the place he'd been directed. Their camping tents don't take up much of the available space, but they don't plan to be there long enough to need more. The group collapses into their nesting cloths and fall asleep.

While he sleeps, he dreams. He wanders the city to be. The empty buildings around him hold ghostly memories within them of the tents he knows are still there.

The spawning pools, filled with rich brine and nekton, each separate from its neighbors. Viewing platforms line the pools, and small dome buildings for spawning in relative privacy. Next to it he slides past the academy grounds, with barracks in place of the officers' tents. Housing complexes form a ring around the core buildings, with caste meeting halls sprinkled throughout.

As he wanders, Bruen feels unseen eyes upon him. He looks around and spots Somner Wev standing in the doorway of the Fon caste. Wev fades from sight mere moments after he spots her, but he sees another robed figure. In the alley between two common dwellings, he sees a green robed figure before it too fades away.

He continues to explore the dream city. More thaumatists appear in glimpses as he moves between the otherwise abandoned city. Only one remains when he locks his gaze upon them.

Somner Zek stands alone at the edge of the city. The mouth of the exit tunnel behind her is shut with heavy gates. Zek studies the runework upon, seemingly oblivious to the young general as he approaches.

"Somner, do you know where we are? Are you the source of my restored vision as well as these unwanted visions?"

She doesn't respond. The young general stands there, watching as she runs her tendrils along the runes. That the solid gate of heavy stone shows faintly the contents of the tunnel behind it seems not to bother her examination at all.

After a time that their internal senses can't measure, as is the way of dreams, she stops her probing. Zek stands straighter and turns to look at the warrior.

"I was selected to find help. Of all the castes, Mos is most like ours. You are born into a life of training and battle, slowly losing your body and mind in service to the empire. Of the Mos, you alone are drawn from the ranks of the casteless, like us. You can understand serving a role you were not born to."

Bruen stands silently as he contemplates her words. In another dream he had seen the early life of a prospective thaumatist. He also knows from his own experiences with dust eaters how their drug twists their minds. He remembers the melted shapes of the teachers from previous visions, and realizes that was more than the warped nature of dreams.

She screams and vanishes in a flash of white. It startles Bruen enough that the dream ends, sending him into silent sleep.