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The Orclan Who Knew Too Much

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Draktrekh trekhet rektharn zarvtharn dren. Kar Zetharn ulkh trekhur

We was being sent in to steal back a sciencetist what was stolen. Zetharn Karn lost him in battle. Never could get handle on Veruthik commands, they never tell whole story. Someone was stolen, but by who? No picture, no describers. They wanted them alive and orclan good at winning.

The battle wasnt easy, other side have Orclan too, though they not look like Pact or Syndicate. Then we find out why, other Kar stole sciencetist… Many orclan reached Trekhath today, each younger than me. But we finally reached hidden room, the sciencetist was shouting stuff, heard some before we put gag on him. “Loya-tee Worsless, Dis-poble Liv-stuck Expie-raterdate” but Velthorin Karn were coming so we grabbed the sciencetist and went for the transport.

You thinked the sciencetist want to stay, but order say, he belong to Zetharn Karn so to Zetharn Karn he go. He doesn't look with eyes of fear, he looks with eyes of sadness. Like we are not really there or will be gone soon. When we get to transport, we run into trap… Velthorin Kar soldiers led by Krumm and joined by Chimeran. I deploy experiment gas and throw it in, hoping chimeran handle mess for us. I grab sciencetist and go to regroup at next point, like order say. 

Most of clan reached Trekhath; only 3 of us left. We ask sciencetist why everyone want him. He said words so big I never remember what they were, but then he showed us. He say Orclan grow in vat for Varkh, Orclan fight for Varkh, Orclan die for Varkh. Orclan always die for Varkh, that why no old orclan, Varkh make us die if we not reach Trekhath by 40 years.

Sciencetist says Orclan always like this, sciencetist says Orclan values con-vee-net for Varkh. But we have order, get sciencetist to Zetharn, then why Velthorin involved? Why they use virex to keep sciencetist? We Orclan are confused and not understand Varkh. Why make orclan and fight orclan against orclan? sciencetist smart, but not know these answers!

Sciencetist says he can reverse and we grow old. But orclan meant to die in battle, meant to die young, meant to fight. If orclan grow old then orclan is disgrace, if orclan is diseased then orclan is disgrace. Do we want to grow into disgrace? I am 37 years, my arms grow tired, my legs carry me less, what if I am not meant to grow past this?

But to see my brothers lie dead across the field in a fight between Kar, what are we fighting for? Because orclan killing orclan is not honor, it is like killing brother. Other Virex not know what it mean to be Orclan. I will let sciencetist fix me, but we still have mission. sciencetist not safe with Velthorin, sciencetist not safe with Zetharn. My brothers also take cure, the three of us will protect sciencetist and we will get him to safety off world.

Sciencetist say he need his writing. How hard is to remember orders? We must go back to sciencetist room and get writings, he insist we not be fixed without. Luckily we on Velthorin Kar world, they have many soldiers, not all have full loyalty yet most cant tell orclan apart without seeing brands. We steal from dead Velthorin Orclan, it not right to do but we need ‘sguises if we want anywhere near sciencetist room.

This not need sciencetist to get stolen over writing, so leave one brother with to guard. sciencetist gives us orders, Orclan good at orders. We make past first few buildings no problem, but Krumm start doing patrols, they have smart brains, we avoid. We find other Orclan, they look like brothers lost, do I leave them? Knowing that they no have value here? Orclan has mission, saving other Orclan not priority, we must save sciencetist writings.

We make it to sciencetist room, but it have colonials, we stand in doorway, like ice, listening to conversation. One of them, his uniform never seen combat, has the marks of Dravenn Kar, walks in circles.

"First that Krumm-tharn on Cragspire goes feral and runs off with a prisoner," the sorak spat, his voice more angry. "Now this. Velthorin-Karn's prized pet titan goes missing, along with the very scientist who designed its loyalty-leash. This entire Virex program is becoming more trouble than it's worth."

The other colonial, leaning against the desk, scoffed. "What do you expect when you raise beasts to fight your wars? You can't be surprised when one of them finally bites the hand that feeds. The report said the Krumm tore its handler's arm clean off. Pure madness."

"It's a failure of doctrine," the first officer say. "Virellian-Tharn gets too sentimental with their Ironborn, and Velthorin-Karn is too arrogant about their creations. It's a rot spreading through the legions. Find these titans. Find the scientist. And if the beasts so much as twitch, put them down. The Consilium wants no more embarrassing loose ends."

Then the Sorak see us. "Report. Have you located the asset?"

We exchange look. They not just looking for lost asset. They looking to make example.

No Sorak! Sent us for clues, said papers missing. 

The colonial looked us up and down “And they send you for Intelligence retrieval?” Jura Sorak! 

“Well, be quick about it. Don't waste my time. Vel-orn.” Jura Sorak! 

He motion to desk, and he look at other colonial and say “Zint ulkh. Do you think it can even read?” fists tighten, but we following orders, not fight colonial. We grab notebook and thank officers before leaving. 

“Trekhvrax, halt. Give me those papers” We stop and consider. 

“Srak. Who is your Draktrekh?” my brother grab me and shove out door. Him reach Trekhath? No time, just jump over railing and head to where we left sciencetist. 

When I get closer I hear blaster fire and sciencetist screaming. It over, sciencetist taken, brothers gone. All brothers gone. I is alone

But have sciencetist writings, must be others with smart brains, theys can figure it out. But how to get off world… who would help… 

I need orders, but first need base to think. Head to forest and find cave Velthorin tosses corpses what cant melt down. Smells like Dren flesh… Am I Dren now? Will I ever reach Trekhath? Is Trekhath even real? Was any Orclan b’lief real?

Cant think here, need orders, but none left to give orders. I need get off world, cant trust Zetharn, cant trust Velthorin, maybe there other presence on moon. I will head further into forest and keep walking until find others, maybe ship port, then steal ship, or steal crew. 

As I walk I plan and think out words, none believe lone orclan has knowledge. If syndicate, they try to use as bargain chip, crimson blades orclan rarely know a life without battle. Coil would try to turn it against orclan. If pact, they would try to get more orclan to join. Yes, I try to find pact, but I must hide this knowledge, colonials have killed many orclan over it. 

I remove Velthorin armor, feels like chain still on me, then I remember brand and chip. I take time and remove both. I will not be weapon for Varkh Kar. Tharn drops around wound, but orclan heal fast, then realize, orclan need name, orclan was Grunt of clan Ghor-Maug. Thudd will be me. Chain is gone now.

Thudd must think. All orclan have titan brains, need to find where mine are then I make orders. But then I hear noise ahead and realize I found a town. I must be quiet and see first, otherwise will be seen. I find tower with only one lone colonial, I jump up and silence him quick. Now I have view, I find maps too, now Thudd can plan. Looks like there is free port on other side of town, will head there, offer work as fighter. 

Ships need fighters, then I not steal ship, that put target on me. Varkh will want writings and they know orclan took. But they expect orclan to be simple and steal ship or crew. I need to be different from other Orclan, Thudd is free. I keep head low as can go and try to make way to free port. I make way in and small Dren approach me, “Velthorin is back that way!” 

“I not with Kar” and I spit a thick glob of black and green mucus on ground close to his feet, “need work as fighter, any space?” 

“Uhh sure, check out the cantina. And don't start trouble, or we’ll get the Kar involved.” I walk past him carrying hammer on side and proceed up to cantina. The inside is chaotic and loud, the smell of Dren everywhere, but I am Dren now. I sit at bar and ask keeper if they know anybody who need work.

The barkeep was a multi-armed Molari, with a slight hint of exhaustion in his voice. “Depends what kind of work you’re looking for. Most crews ain’t picking up strays, ‘specially not ones fresh out of the Varkh”

Before I answer, another voice speaks from end of bar. “A stray with a hammer like that?” The voice says “I’d wager they ain’t looking for work as a hauler. So what is ya lookin’ for?” They lean forward and I see Skyrunner, famous as pirates, but largely unaffiliated with syndicate or pact. She has a boot propped up on one end of the bar as she tips her hat backwards. She gestures with her mug “Looks like you running from something. Or better yet, running to something. Well I got needs for a heavy hitter and you look like you need money.”

“Pay good?” I ask, looking them over trying to figure out if she just trying to use me for something else, but what is difference if I get paid.

“Its a high risk job with a high reward client. We pay in credits, gear and a trip to any nexus port you want, no questions. You look like you could use a fresh start.” as she slides a credit tracker to me “My signing bonus. Consider it good faith. We leave at dawn, you in?”

I look at tracker, more credits than I have ever seen before, “I in, where to meet?”

She laughs and says “I knew you got a good head on you. The name is Vella, captain of the Talon’s Grasp. We're on docking pad 4 and we leave in the morning. Bring whatever you need and–try not to break anything”

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