Chapter 3 part 5

### Stellar Shield’s Not-So-Stellar Day

As the solar minimum loomed on the horizon, Station Baldr braced for the long dark. Unlike the gleaming hubs of the Inner Systems, outfitted with fusion cores or antimatter reactors, the colonies of the Lunatran Empire remained dependent on crystallized energy and quantum fuel. Here, ancient methods still reigned supreme.

Station Baldr, like its neighboring settlements, drew power from the crystalline forests of the nearby dwarf planet. Yet recent cycles had brought an economic surge, flooding the station with colonists and increasing energy demands. The once-methodical mining operations had now become ceaseless, an endless cycle of extraction driven by necessity. Thankfully, the station's robust hydroponics network offered some reprieve amidst the Havoc.

"Plasma Deer, huh? These xeno fauna really despise the sound of crystal mining," someone remarked near the comms relay.

At the extraction zone, nestled deep within the crystalline forests, mining crews toiled under the faint glow of luminescent crystal spires. The Administrator, long hesitant to expand operations, had finally greenlit more aggressive extraction protocols this cycle. While the crystalline formations regenerated over time, reckless harvesting could still push the forests into collapse.

Until now, mining efforts had focused on the denser interior formations, where yields were higher but transportation through the void more costly. Shifting operations to the outer zones seemed like a relief to most workers—but here, the presence of territorial xeno fauna, especially the Plasma Deer, was an ever-present danger.

Just beyond the crystalline spires, one such creature stood in ominous stillness. The Plasma Deer, its plasma-charged antlers crackling faintly, observed us with unblinking eyes. These territorial creatures marked their domain by scorching patterns into the crystals, releasing energy discharges as a warning.

For humans, mining the crystals was akin to deliberately provoking these volatile guardians.

I still didn’t fully understand why they reacted this way—it was almost as if they clung to some incomprehensible, Ancient Spacer-like code of conduct. Even the ancient civilizations of this sector wouldn’t take offense over something so trivial.

"Hey, should we clear out this crystal forest and turn it into a low-gravity recreation zone?" someone joked.

Smirking, I struck a nearby crystal with my plasma blade, sending a bright spark into the air. It was a reckless taunt, the kind of thing only someone eager to tempt fate would do. Normally, void creatures would flee at the sound of such disruptions, but—

*Swoosh.*

The Plasma Deer screeched, a piercing, high-frequency cry, and charged. Its plasma-charged antlers glowed, deadly arcs of energy crackling along their length.

"Your bio-readings are spiking," a voice crackled in my comm.

"!?"

I braced, intercepting the creature’s horns with my plasma blade. The impact reverberated through my environment suit, the strength enhancers straining just to deflect the blow.

Redirecting its momentum, I watched as the Plasma Deer’s antlers became embedded in a nearby crystal formation. It struggled to free itself, the charged energy flickering erratically.

"Hah, it’s like dealing with a Void Behemoth—but with an easily exploitable weakness," I muttered to myself.

Without hesitation, I thrust my half-spec blaster into its neural cluster and shot it pointy blank. The creature let out a final, bio-electric screech that echoed through the crystalline forest.

"Did you just neutralize the Plasma Deer?"

"Oh, nice work, partner! Saves us the trouble of having to use jump-packs to escape these things."

"Don’t mention it. It’s part of the job."

Dragging the fallen Plasma Deer back to the operation site, I noted the crew diligently extracting energy crystals. I kept the initial processing simple, removing the creature’s bio-fluid and internal organs before preparing it for transport to the station’s facilities.

"Partner, if you’re processing that, the Guild techs can handle the finer details. Just drop it off in their containment area," one of the older workers suggested.

"Oh, so the Stellar Shield’s taking charge? That’s good. Thanks, old-timer."

"Any more xeno fauna show up, we’ll ping your comm. Stay sharp."

The Plasma Deer’s habit of attacking in response to mining vibrations made these operations fraught with danger. As a precaution, large teams of workers and security personnel were deployed to the forests. This time, the Spacer’s Guild had dispatched their Stellar Shield unit—a close-quarters combat team with a reputation for handling hostile void creatures.

On my way to the containment area, I noticed a familiar figure clad in an environmental suit. It was Julio, one of the Stellar Shield’s operatives and a regular drinking companion back at the station lounge.

"Oh, Narwhal. My sensors weren’t picking you up earlier—I was worried. Wait... you took down the Plasma Deer? Alone?"

"Hey, Julio. Well, guys like me can move freely. I was tracking the ones coming from deeper within the formations."

Laying the Plasma Deer onto the processing platform, Julio scanned the specimen with a practiced hand.

"A young male," he noted.

"Fearless of energy weapons. Guess it was an inexperienced one."

"Clean severance of the neural cluster. And look at that bio-luminescent hide—it’ll fetch a decent price on the station market."

"The grav-lift stabilizers make hauling this beast a breeze, don't they? Are you taking care of the processing here? Mind splitting some of the protein synthesis? I'll throw in both plasma glands if you do."

"Seriously? That’s... generous, but it feels excessive for just handling some processing."

"It’s fine. Dealing with it myself is more of a hassle. All I need are the energy core, neural matrix, and sensory organs. That’s more than enough for me."

"You’re not big on synthesized protein, are you?"

"I am... but eating it constantly gets dull. I usually just trade the surplus at the station’s market."

I didn’t hate synthesized protein from xeno-fauna—it was rich, complex, and tailored to human biochemistry. But even molecular seasonings couldn’t completely mask the monotony.

"Besides," I added, "the Plasma Deer will keep appearing for a while. If I’m going to hit my capacity, I want it to be with the high-energy parts."

"The dorsal protein isn’t bad, though. Pretty nutritious, don’t you think?"

"Maybe."

"That’s an awfully underwhelming answer."

It wasn’t that I disliked Plasma Deer. But when compared to Terra-beef, they just didn’t measure up. Before I could expand on that thought, an alert pierced the low hum of the crystal forest.

"Void parasites! Alpha strains inbound!"

Our comm systems buzzed to life, broadcasting the warning from the deeper extraction zones. Alpha strains meant a significant swarm—and if even one escaped into the void, it could wreak havoc on nearby stations. While our suits could withstand most encounters, protocol dictated that all hands respond to the threat.

"Let’s move," I said.

"Great. After this, I’ll have to decontaminate my tools again."

"You’re way too fussy about that, Narwhal."

"Sterile equipment is the mark of a true spacer in the Lunatran Empire."

"You’re... unique."

"And your bluntness is borderline rude."

In synchronized steps, we moved swiftly through the low-gravity terrain. Ahead, the Stellar Shield’s vanguard was already locked in combat, their energy blades carving arcs of plasma through the swarm.

"Hey-ya!"

One of the shield warriors dispatched a parasite with a single, precise swing, the creature’s primitive bio-armor no match for modern tech.

Difference in tech level and weapon range. This fight clearly highlighted the stark contrast in capability. In the Lunatran Empire, an energy blade meant "a weapon as powerful as an individual's suit can safely power." The minimum requirement for someone to be called a void warrior is the ability to channel energy through their suit to some extent. This allows them to wield an energy blade. Since they swing these weapons with suits enhanced by quantum tech, it's only natural that the main armament becomes more powerful. Conversely, to take down the large xeno beasts rampant throughout the sector, these high-powered energy blades are indispensable.

"It’s like target practice. The Stellar Shield makes this look effortless," I remarked.

Julio chuckled through the comm, his voice tinged with amusement. "Void parasites might not be the most dangerous xeno-beast, but they’re a nuisance for new recruits. Experience matters in void combat—tactics, timing, and reading openings. The guild vets make it look easy because they’ve done this for cycles."

While Julio said this with a wry smile visible through his helmet visor, the new guild recruits don't have it as easy. Activating shields, finding ways to avoid energy blasts, and capitalizing on openings—all of these require tactics that need to be employed multiple times in void combat. The Stellar Shield's conventional wisdom of neutralizing them easily from a distance is clearly steps ahead. But still, I guess Julio enjoys this contrast.

"Alright," I muttered, drawing my tools. "Guess I’d better start earning my keep."

"Yeah, good luck."

Julio engaged his suit’s thrusters, surging toward the fray. His usual polite demeanor vanished as he entered combat mode, his blade igniting with a sharp hum. The contrast was striking, though hardly unusual for those in the guild.

As I considered joining the fight, a parasite broke from the swarm and rushed toward me.

"Why’s it running at *us*?" I mused aloud. Trying to analyze the alien logic of void creatures was always futile.

"U-hahaha!"

"!?"

With a grin, I activated my suit’s external speakers and broadcasted a chaotic signal burst while darting erratically across the terrain. I struck a nearby crystal formation with my blade, sending a cascade of resonant vibrations through the air. The parasite froze, its movements hesitant and confused. Even creatures of instinct struggled to process erratic behavior. Sometimes, the simplest diversions worked best.

"What in the stars was that?"

With a bemused expression visible through his visor, Julio asked, severing the neural clusters of two stunned parasites.

"Just an imitation of a space primate."

"You could’ve engaged directly."

"I didn’t want to contaminate my weapons."

"How are you this much of a clean freak?"

"I’m efficient. You’re just judgmental."

While the Stellar Shield continued to mop up the swarm, Julio scraped the remains of a parasite off his sensor array, grimacing.

"Every cycle, it’s the same routine," he muttered.

"This cycle’s worse," I replied. "Every station’s struggling for energy crystals. If the situation doesn’t improve..."

"Some habitation pods might lose life support," Julio finished. His voice was flat, resigned.

"Who knows... I don't want them to, but they probably will... it happens more often than we like to admit."

Silence fell as Julio pried a gooey, web-like residue from his blade.

"Narwhal, this stuff is nasty. It’s like cosmic sludge." He held up a dripping chunk of bio-matter, taking a step closer to me.

"..."

"...Julio, calm down."

"Want a souvenir? Here, take this—"

"Absolutely not. Keep that filth away from me!"

"Come on! It’s fresh!"

"Stop! Don’t make me disable your thrusters!"

Our antics were abruptly cut short by the sharp reprimand of the vice-commander, the voice crackling over the comms.

"Get back in line, both of you."

"Thanks, Vice-Commander," I said with gratitude, glaring at Julio through my visor.

"Next time, you’re carrying the bio-matter," he shot back with a laugh.

Author’s Note: 

Energy’s short, tempers are shorter, and xeno beasts don’t care either way. This chapter’s just another slice of life in the outer sectors—where cracking jokes while cracking skulls is how you cope with work conditions that OSHA would cry over. Narwhal’s still a clean freak, Julio’s still a menace, and the Stellar Shield remains absurdly competent. Hopefully, next cycle doesn’t involve parasites and exploding antlers. But it probably will.

Thanks for tagging along through the low-grav chaos. Onward.