Arrival

Unknown Region

Unknown Constellation

Classified System (-1.0)

21:19 EVE Time (Local System)

Floating deep in unknown space under the furious glare of binary suns, a flicker appeared, as though the surface of reality was twitching. It steadily increased in frequency, moving faster and faster, fluctuating back and forth violently until the space around it literally tore from the stress. From the centre of the flickering tear, an stormy-surfaced orb appeared, reflecting the system's suns in its awful black and orange core. Slowly, the rolling surface of the orb calmed, currents and waves of light disappearing into a sleek stillness that emanated pure malice to those looking upon it.

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"We've got a new signature"

"Where does it link to?"

"We're not sure, scouts are heading over now. But we believe it's back into known space"

"I see. Are we going for a supply run?"

"If we can. Form up on the hole in four minutes. You're on logistics."

"Yes sir"

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Even when surrounded by multiple warships, the flickering tear in reality looked no less menacing. Nestled deep within his Guardian class cruiser, Zendrak couldn't tear his eyes off the camera drones, devouring every detail of the dangerous but beautiful space surrounding him.

A burst of static shocked him out of his reverie.

"Logistics group, are we stable?"

Zendrak sent a silent confirmation into the fleet channel, the communication shortly mimicked by his two cap chain partners, also in Guardian logistics cruisers some fourty kilometres off the hole. The chain was up, and repair systems were ready incase of an emergency. His corpmates had learnt long ago not to take unnecessary risks when traveling through wormholes. Orbiting closer to the hole was a Legion, two Abaddon Battleships and four Hurricane Battlecruisers, providing the guns of the operation. A single Devoter Heavy Interdictor sat almost on top of the bulging event horizon, to the point that it looked slightly blurry through the camera drones due to the distorted reality around the hole.

"Stability confirmed, scout jumping in now"

The Legion class cruiser, fitted for covert operations and deep-space scanning entered the tear, the silhouette of her golden hull twisting impossibly before it disappeared into the unknown. Several seconds of unease descended onto the fleet, each pilot wondering what was awaiting them on the other side.

Another burst of static.

"...Fleet this is Eyes. System appears clear of hostiles. Location is LowSec known space with highsec entry, Genesis Region. Currently twenty-one jumps from Jita --- Wait.. An unknown has decloaked off the hole"

"What's his ident?"

"Checking now... It's a Pilgrim Recon Cruiser... Shit he's jumped in"

"Damn it. - Fleet, get ready for hostile action. I want this thing dead before it can get into our home"

The Devoter's bubble ballooned to life, surrounding everything around the hole with a shimmering sphere that would prevent the intruder from warping away. There was a few seconds silence.

The wormhole flared...

Nothing happened.

The fleet watched patiently. They knew if the intruder didn't instantly jump out, they would catch him.

Nothing.

Zendrak stared out at the hole, already locking up his fleetmates incase the hostile decided to go on a suicide run. Madness for sure, but stranger things had already happened. He waited for some sign of the intruder.

Still the space around the hole was empty.

A gentle chime from Zendrak's comms array dragged his attention from the fleet. A communication request? Out here? He accepted the request warily, wondering who wanted to talk to him.

A rush of static filled the new channel for a few seconds, until a calm, warm, and familiar voice came across.

"....... --- Ah brother, I see you have made some friends out here. Is there any chance you can tell them not to blow me into the nearest scrapyard?"

Zendrak's jaw dropped inside his pod.

"Seraph?!"

/////